Obviously the idea of running a piston engine by using compressed air is not new. Nor is it particularly difficult to implement.

However I expect it is less environmentally friendly than it might seem at first sight as lots of energy is needed to compress the air.

The Times calls it "the most environmentally friendly vehicle: the air car". But I suspect that maybe largely journalist puff. Once the air has been compressed, you have to have a strong container to store it in. A cylinder which is strong enough to store it is going to be pretty heavy to lug around, or be so small that it would need to be refilled/replaced after only a few miles. Moreover, in the UK people are not likely to buy a car without a heater - I suspect that would be a problem in a car driven by a compressed air piston engine.

Various reports suggest that the major manufacturers are working on different ways of providing different types of fuel for driving cars. Solar, Hydrogen, bio diesel etc.

Does anyone have a knowledgeable view on the 'Air Car'?

--
Peter