The Air Car

Scott McNally
Chemical Engineering
The University of Texas
Fall 2007
 Outline

The Cars
Air Tanks
Thermodynamics
Does it make sense?
Is it even possible?
Summary and Conclusion
 The Engine
Compressor efficiency: 80-90%
These engines are compressors in
reverse
MDI: Moteur Developpment International

Weight: 750 Kg
Max load: 500 Kg
Range: 150 miles
Top speed: 68 mph
Recharge time: 3
minutes
 Filling the Tanks

Costs $2 in electricity
Filling stations
3 minutes using volume transfer
These stations dont exist
Home compressor
4 hrs in Europe
8 hrs in U.S.
 Thermodynamics

300 Liters at 300 Bar

Full tank weight: 200 Kg
43,600 Btu required for filling
40,000 max output
Gasoline: 110,000 Btu/Gal
Equivalent: 0.4 gallons of gasoline
 Thermodynamics

Honda Civic Hybrid: 45 mpg, 1100 kg

Gas engine: 20% efficient
At 100% efficiency: 225 mpg
0.4 gallons: 90 miles
Advertised numbers are flawed
Tank size needs to be doubled
Increase weight by 200 kg
Not a big deal
 Thermal Efficiency
High thermal efficiency
Power plant: biggest loss at 50%
Transmission line loss: 7%
Compressor: 10-20%
Air engine with regenerative braking: 170%
Impossible
Overall efficiency: 40%
Electrical efficiency: 70%
 Summary - Benefits

Cheap
3,500 euro sticker price
A few dollars to fill up and maintain
Free Air Conditioning
Higher thermal efficiency
 Summary - Drawbacks
Less safe: Fiberglass and glue
Low power, tank bleed off
Shorter range
Infrastructure problem
 Conclusion

Possible
Good for city driving
Short range forever
Not likely to be successful in U.S.
 References
The Air Car. 2007. Moteur
Developpment International. 17 Nov.
2007 <http://www.theaircar.com/>. The
Worlds First Air Car. 2007. Popular
Mechanics. 17 Nov. 2007
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/aut
omotive/new_cars/42...>.
Questions?