The car of my dreams...

[WhiteDove01s]

I've just heard about a car that I really really like. Two catches - (1) it's not in production yet, and (2) I currently couldn't save up the cheap $10,000 expected sale price if it was. But I feel compelled to share anyway, because the more people who know about it, the more who might like it and want one too, and thus greater chance of at least problem 1 being resolved, right?

Say hi to the AirPod:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RBl1LF ... e=youtu.be

[victoriavictrix]

It will never pass US safety standards. I cannot see how it would ever be allowed in the US.

[WhiteDove01s]

*sigh* You're probably right. A lot of those regulations are biased in favor of those who'd prefer to drive 4 tons of gas-propelled steel down the road. Those things are a safety hazard for me, being stuck as a pedestrian in a town that doesn't bother having sidewalks or crosswalks... 9.9

[oniakki]

They could try passing it off as some type of motorcycle/trike, which has a different set of safety laws. It does only have 3 wheels after all. And doesn't look much, if any, bigger then some of the motorcycles/trikes I've seen on the road.

And while we don't have any proper refill stations, most gas stations have tire airing machines that might work if you brought an adapter... not sure how long that'd take to fill up (nor am I sure what pressures they can handle)

[Linteia]

I noticed that the video is five years old, so I'm guessing this particular product has died, but you can make one on your own. My husband's physics teacher made one and used it as a lesson in why the idea doesn't work. First, the amount of energy you can get out of compressed air is abysmal because most of the energy is lost in the thermodynamic exchange before it ever even has a chance to become 'fuel'. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) explains it this way:

The “thermo” of thermodynamics—the unstoppable flow of heat—makes pneumatic propulsion a considerable engineering challenge. The molecules of oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases in air give off heat when compressed, representing a loss of energy up front. Do the compression quickly, before the heat can dissipate into the surroundings, and the losses rise further. And the trouble only mounts when all this compressed gas is later released from the tank. The same molecules cool when they expand, hence the chill on your hand when you empty a spray can. Expand the gas slowly, and the pneumatic equipment can stay warm by reabsorbing energy from the atmosphere. But power-hungry vehicles must expand the gas quickly, so they are subject to extreme cooling, which hampers the engine or, at worst, freezes its air-feed lines.

And while compressed air is inexpensive, you also have to fill up considerably more often and the output is comical. The top speed has ranged from the commercial version's 18 mph to the professor's 'generous' 25 mph! That's not even legal driving speed on most streets. Second, the compressed air is not 'clean' since it still uses the power grid (powered by, you guessed it, fossil fuels) to compress the gasses. The only difference, just like electric cars, is that the fossil fuel is burned in an factory, not your car. According to this article, compressed air could cause as much as twice the CO2 emissions of gas powered cars because of the inefficiency of compressed air. The article also compares energy efficiency of compressed air to battery and gas. Compressed air only has 12% the energy of battery and 1% the energy of gas. 1%!

Basically it sounds like a good idea, but the reality is you're better off with a bike.

[K2!]

A three wheel car with a single wheel in the front? Yeah, right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

Maybe you want one of these.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfSS0ZXYdo

[victoriavictrix]

Here you go.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/12198941?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227006642091&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=55886297591&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=92550057191&veh=sem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ4C9tUIAcQ

It's electric, and comes with a charger. It's classed as a scooter so it is street legal. You can take the doors off for warm weather (although all you get is shelter, no heater, in bad weather).

You can even buy one to be delivered to WalMart.

Also, even though Hawaii is supposed to get AirPods in 2015, we are halfway through the year and there is no sign of them. This might be why:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/environment/deflating-the-air-car

[Trethowan]

Anyone remember Mr. Bean and the blue 3-wheel car? Hilarious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWGHlgU7D0U

[K2!]

Anyone remember Mr. Bean and the blue 3-wheel car? Hilarious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Anyone remember Mr. Bean and the blue 3-wheel car? Hilarious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W7Mrt7Xl54