Where is my Compressed-Air Minivan?

May 1, 2015, the AIRPod made a splash in "Shark Tank" when it earned a $5 million pledge. Can compressed air engines truly power a passenger car? The technology is over a century old. Has it been repressed like so many other alternative power sources? How clean is it truly?

Image via Bright Hub.

Will Compressed Air Power Tomorrow's Cars?

Originally published at BrightHub.com.

Could the future of automobiles be compressed air engines rather than ones fueled by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells?

The AIRPod

Motor Development International of France designed the AIRPod. It's a small three-wheeled city car that seats a driver in the front and two rear-facing passengers in the back. It has no pedals or steering wheel. Rather, a joystick controls this car. Range is about 100 miles with a top speed of 50 mph. Built mostly from resin and fiberglass, the AIRPod weighs a mere 600 pounds. ZPM hopes to sell them by the end of 2015 for around $10,000
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Image via Best Green Cars.

Read the rest of the article at Bright Hub Education.

Learn about the history of compressed air engines, their real world possibilities and their limitations.

I wrote more about the AIRPod for Best Green Cars.