Discussion on:

Air-powered motorcycle has arrived

The key question on this subject is whats the range???

Exactly! The range is the most critical feature to know about. I don't really care about weight, engine weight, and top speed. The RANGE is main factor.

It would go 15 miles except a dirt bike uses all of its gears and goes up and down so its most likely of no use as a dirt bike. It also staes that they are using a solar panel to power the compressor but you would also have to carry it with you.

My guess is it will go very fast in a straight line for nearly a mile or more!

With a high-speed solar powered compressor, "refueling" should take no more than 2.5 hours, then you're ready for the next mile!

Can you smell the Hooey?

And the article presented it as such.. Just remember that when Lewis and Clarke began their trek to the Pacific Ocean, they did not take a powder-driven gun with them. Their rifles were air powered, using brass airtanks charged to 1200psi using hand pumps. Their firing mechanisms were so efficient that 40 shots of 47 caliber lead WITHOUT a measurable drop in air pressure.
Did I mention that these were French made guns produced before 1800?
Cut these folks some slack! Its a design exercise. The tubular steel of the frame may be used as air storage - who knows? If you have something POSITIVE to offer, do so. Otherwise, all YOU have to offer smells like so much HOOEY!

Can you read ? This is a prototype .. a concept, not a finished product. What the article so very clearly points out is that the preliminary results were based on the cycle using a standard scuba tank. A compressor and solar panel are only the next refinement to this CONCEPT.

Article seems to say less than 15 minutes at less than 45 km/hr, which would be a range less than 10 km.

this concept could be adapted for compact cars
using a 500 bar or larger tank

bar is a unit of pressure, not tank size. You can get increased power from more highly pressurized tanks but it gets more and more difficult -- and dangerous -- as that number goes up

Doesn't it use electricity to compress the air to 200bar? How much does it take?

Good point - now let's join a few more dots....
And what sort of fuel is providing the energy to generate the electricity to, in turn, compress the air to power the thing? Hopefully it's going to be renewable, in lieu of burning fossil fuel to do it - else the whole point of this exercise is just a waste of time....

???A solar panel and a compressor now becomes your refinery..."

They really need an editor to keep the content of smart planet smart.

passively and then we're talking more RANGE & POWER

What's power got to do with it? Guess we need to build a noise maker into it, too, so it'll go "vroom vroom" really loud, right?

Range a major factor not given. The Engineair motor, the most important component, is not commercially available. To put it another way: not ready for prime time and no hint as to whether it ever will be. We've had too much of designs that either will never have any practical use or never see production. While he was at it, why didn't he design this motorcycle to fly to the moon? Just as achieveable.

Hey they got me to read the whole article looking for the range! lol
You would think that would be important!

I'm looking forward to stop at a gas staton for... air

I'd likely have a few spare tanks in my garage as well. Looks to be enough room to fit a 2nd tank near the engine or near the other tank. Nice concept overall!

Air is made up of gasses. All though Air Station sounds pretty nice.

And, how does the energy required to propel a light motorcycle compare to the amount needed to compress the air?

Coal fired power plants, no doubt.

You didn't read the solar powered compressor part?

Great in theory, but exactly how long in the sun does it take to compress enough air to make that thing go for any significant distance? I'm willing to bet that there's a plug-in somewhere.

I am trying to study infinite power loop. there are already a lot of theories about it from youtube. some called it zero point energy. Hopefully I could build one of these during my lifetime for a change. I hope they too can build one.

So it must just be dismissed outright. I suspect you're an oil lobbyist.

The negativity of these comments seem narrow minded. He didn't ask for you to buy something. This technology will likely find many niches, and could "balloon into" something later on (pun unintended). Think possibility, not negatvity, of you might poo-poo something important. (I think the inventors should save these comments for just such a day)...

Thanks for being open. I have a pneumatic energy system designed, and I think it's the future. Compressed air is tank able and pipe able, so storage and distance are not big design issues. Have a look, and spread the word about my system, which will make cheap compressed air bikes many and efficient, and fun. Hybrid gasoline and compressed air are better.

I entered your website Steven, but it was just two pdf-files on that one.
Anna

One is my fishery system, the other is the energy system.

the flack Columbus, Magellen and every other notable pioneer experienced in the past. Not to be discouraged though, one can almost measure the ground-breaking leap in knowledge by the amount of flack they receive from the masses. They said Marconi was a blooming idiot too.

People who write this news should be smart enough to comprehend the impact, if any. There is nothing new under the sun and the steam motor already used exactly the same principle but renewing continuously the steam with carbon or wood. The only clues are range and energy used (actually transferred) to compress the air. Even though I am not an engineer, I assume that we can get 300 liter of air in the 10 liter tank at a pressure of 200 bar! good for a start 800 revs and Psst. Please keep it smart.
Thank you.
Banjoli

The Tata Car Company in India is building an air powered car which seems to be similar to this product .

That was some years ago, no announcement for a long time. I think they don't want you to ask them about it

What is a waist of time (I envision something expanding)? Reminds me of the guy who dissed someone as a panty waste (don't want to envision that .

Actually this is absolutely nothing like steam technology which as you've stated requires coal or wood and is very "pollutive". With time and resources, this project could yeild very useful solutions .. or maybe not, and its not the point. Innovation leads to innovation, but you have to start somewhere.

Ever see what happens when a compressed air tank is accidentally knocked over and blows the outlet valve? I have; it turned into a mini missile!
Not sure I want to be sitting on a compressed air tank in an accident that could turn into a mini shrapnel bomb.

I agree that range is important, but also how much weight it can carry over what range is critical knowledge. As a fat guy whose wife will not allow him to drive our motorbike in HCMC traffic, the real question is how far it can go carrying 170 Kg at an average speed of 15 KPH. Traffic here is so heavy that you never go over 30 kph and average only 15 kph. AND, how did you know my name?
Will Robinson

as opposed to sitting on a tank of say... gas?

As long as the valve (outlet) is properly protected, the tank itself could probably withstand a bullet. Their are thousands of propane powered vehicles with a pressure tank that are not much of a safety hazard (but I'm not in a big rush to try that).

LPG (Propane) is stored as a liquid at a very low pressure compared to the extreme pressures required by air powered vehicles.
The LPG is really only a fire hazard, in fact, probably less hazardous than a regular gas tank. When an LPG tank is ruptured and ignited it creates a large fireball, but it only lasts a few seconds, as the gas completely vaporizes as opposed to remaining a flammable liquid and spreading the fire.

"and ignited it creates a large fireball, but it only lasts a few seconds, as the gas completely vaporizes"

everything surrounding it. That includes YOU!

...but I'm sure someone will think it's a great idea. But propane under pressure enters the liquid state to a great extent and dissipates rapidly when released; propane tanks don't have to be nearly as stout as compressed air tanks. Air stays gaseous unless placed under extremely, hazardously high pressure and places its container under constant strain.

Ever seen what happens when a petrol tank catches fire ?
Not sure I want to be sitting on top of a napalm device !

...but range is certainly a factor. I'm still waiting for a coastal city to build a piston air compressor driven by wave action that can supply air at a fraction of the cost of petrol, or for free, throughout their city. So what if there will be a need for multiple refillings along the route, a simple solution is multiple, automatic refill stations built into the roadways that could fill tanks in the time it takes to stop at a red light. Imagine sealanes with multiple refill stations and the green profits in that. But I digress, there are too many fools out there that will think it's too socialist a concept and we'll be stuck with combustion engines/pollution forever.

You are on the right track.

I'm converting my motorcycle to people power. I'm thinking of adding pedals to it. What a great idea; a pedal powered motorcycle. I almost forgot the range. It's only limited by your own input. Any investors interested? Send cash.

Too late Mr. Phil. We have plenty of electric motor assisted bicycles here already. You can pedal or use the motor--first one out of juice rests while the other does the work.

How could I forget about mopeds? I drove one once, just once. I was desperate.

Just one small improvement. I don't wish to pedal this vehicle myself. Could you also provide a human clone to pedal this for me? The clones would be completely recyclable, biodegradable, etc. They might also wear scuba tanks to give this vehicle a hybrid capability.

Thank you for your comments. I apologize for not including information on the range -- this post has now been updated.
Thanks,
Lieu

It will be refillable very quickly and cheaply as long as one has an air compressor. Range is a question if it has less range than a capacitor vs a batter but if its comparable it could be very interesting.

Can recoupe some air presser with the shocks and tire rotion.Will give you more distance.Like one person said even pedel power can pump air.Then if you are to lazy you can let solar power do the work.Thats the kind of thought we need,not critics (somehow) knowing it can't work for them.

200 bar= 2900 psi . a small solar panel that would fit on the bike would not produce anywhere near the power required to run a compressor capable of filling a scuba tank, not to mention the size of the compressor. a quick search shows a small portable scuba compressor weighs 80 lbs. with a 3HP motor and requires 28 amps at 115 volts.

Has anyone checked out the cost of a scuba tank of air? And how much energy (of what source?) goes to produce the compressed air?

Nobody said this was free energy, but the article did suggest running a compressor off of a solar panel. Yeah, it takes energy to build an air compressor too. I don't think compressed air tanks at gas stations go to 200 bar, but that would be a refill option if it did.

There is no "free energy". Those who would have you believe it are frauds. Those who refute "free energy" generally are making the argument that the plan isn't a 100% solution and should be dismissed outright.

Novel work. Get the range to 1-1.5 hours and it would be viable for city commuting.

Well, as long as there are new ideas that can one day replace petroleum, please do more to encourage...not criticize. We need new developments, not stagnant for a better tomorrow for our kids. we can 't be fighting for oil or face oiltycoons cartels forever. The bike can have a modified, efficient air compressor running on fan belt to replenish the air (similar to car aircon compressor for small cars). If you read this : give it a try, Ben.

1st: loss of energy at refill, compressed air heating up
2nd: air tank cools down during decompression.
3rd: need for electricity for headlight etc...*an alternator would do.

My take is Air engine has lower efficiency and range, but at lower cost.

BTW my electric bike does 10 miles easily on one charge.

yeah but unfortunately all the heavy earths for your battery come from china. This whole electric thing transfers the power from the oil producers to the heavy earth producers.

THAT WILL GIVE THE RANGE.

Range of 10 km would be about 50% more than that froggy aircar that has been '1 year from production' for the last 10 or more years.
A good design exercise Dean, but air won't cut the mustard.

So compromise with a hybrid - two smaller tank, and have a small gasolone engine filling tanks alternately..? Anyway, it's a start

I like it as a motorcycle mechanic I would say there could be a future for this technology, a compressor filling station could be driven by wind or water power if green is your thing,up the pressure and size and construction of air tank would add to the range, air hoggs toys show that even in very basic form air power can work well. john new zealand

It's not air powered. It's solar powered, at least in concept. The sun provides the energy, the air is simply a medium used to store, transfer and control the energy.
I'd say a bike is a good place to start because of the light weight and power demand. I think it has great potential.

"It'll never work!" cries Big Oil, as they buy and shelf the patent. "Now, be good little consumers and go to the gas station. The price has only gone up a few cents in the past couple of hours...."

One thought, if no one has already brought this up, would be to increase range with regenerative braking, where the engine is used to pump the tank.
Short range is OK for many users. I think this will likely get lighter, closer to the form-factor of a bicycle or moped.

Eon are the power source of the Olympics so if the withdraw from the deal at the last minute they will be no power at the Olympics so no air power motobike.
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