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It's been exciting enough to hear about hydrogen and compressed-air concept cars popping up at all the auto shows this year. But now there's a go-kart that zips along on compressed air. Considering that air is (still) free, this project by mechanical engineering students from Canada's Dalhousie University is on the right track.
The air-powered vehicle apparently compares favourably with electric-powered carts. In test laps, the students managed three rounds or just under two minutes going full out at 43kmh on two tanks.
But the air-powered go-kart still has some ways to go, literally. It runs out of air quickly, according to its makers. And, as with hydrogen and electric cars, for it to be really green, the electricity generated to create the 'air fuel' in the first place will need to come from renewables. If it comes from the same old coal power stations, then all it's doing is moving the pollution elsewhere.
But nothing that time and refinements won't improve. And in the name of cheap, sustainable energy, bring it on -- compressed air could have a shiny green future.
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