Why arent our cars running on air? why do we have to use fuel and gas? why are electric cars so expensi?

Answer 1

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Yes, if you want an air car, here's one:
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http://www.theaircar.com/models.html
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If you want an electric car, here's the latest one:
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http://phoenixmotorcars.com/models/fleet.html
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The Phoenix electric pickup truck - using new, advanced Altairnano batteries (based on research from MIT) - can:

-Travel up to 250 miles per charge
-Carry 5 passengers plus cargo at 95mph.
-Charges batteries in as little as TEN MINUTES.
-Has batteries that last 250,000 miles (never need replacement.)
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These cars are expensive not because of exotic technology, but because they are not being mass produced. It's a chicken-and-egg problem. People have to buy them before they will get cheap. But nobody is buying them because they are not cheap. See the problem?
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If you want a cheap electric car, though, they can be found. Here's the kind of electric car I drive - an electric conversion. These cars can be had for as little as $5000:
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http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-electric-car/
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Of course, you won't get the latest tech this way - but you will get a freeway capable car that will save you a ton of money on gas (electricity is much cheaper than gas.)
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Answer 2

You certainly can run your car on compressed air, some french team did just that a couple of years back. The only trouble is that such an energy storage system (energy input is compression, energy output is expansion/running the "motor") is only about 50% efficient, a much poorer efficiency than even the humble lead acid storage battery.

Despite all of the rambling answers on here, it's not the oil companies fault that we use so much petroleum. Frankly, there are no other economic alternatives. If we are willing to pay a lot more, we could built the infrastructure for a renewable-erengy powered fleet, but that's a major undertaking. Most americans are too scared of having to pay higher prices/taxes to do that.

Answer 3

We all think that driving a car on "clean" power would be great. The problem is that making gas engines and cars to run on them is child's play for the big car companies. Why should they spend billions of dollars on alternative fuels? Until the government funds some more research this won't happen. Electric cars are so expensive because they aren't mass produced. Also the components included in and Electric Vehicle are much more expensive than gas componenets. Also cars can't run on air. They could run on hydrogen which takes more energy to get from water than it outputs, it can also be obtained from "cracking" natural gas. This causes pollution. We need more work to be done to find a way to make clean power. What people need to do is take the initiative and write letters to their congressmen, what ever you can to make the world a better place for our children.

Answer 4

To be completely logical, its not so much about money, but more about inconveinience.

Internal combustion engines have been with us since 1900, and have advanced a hell of a lot. We have the technology to implement hydrogen powered cars, (basically, they burn water)... But to make every fuel station in the UK to use it would take probably 10 years or more.

And now the money bit - Oil companies are some of the richest corporations around. Now, I personally don't mind this - I'd just like to point that out now!

But anyway, they are worth £trillions because we all have to fill up our cars with petrol or diesel... now they aren't going to be too happy if we stop using it while they still have a supply of oil going.
Yes, oil WILL run out, but for now, the companies are happy with us using it, so we shall continue to use it.

Keep in mind that oil companies, despite what Gordon Brown spews up about the environment, still control this country mostly. If they said NO to making fuel, this country would be finished, as would America, Europe, Japan, etc. Not finantially, but we wouldn't be moving atall, which would eventually cripple us.

With this in mind, the government can cry as much as they want about the environment, but the fact still remains, when push comes to shove, BP, Shell, ESSO, etc. all have a huge power and presence in politics...

So, thats why we're still using their products...

Answer 5

How are you going to compress the air? If you are expending energy then you have to have a power source. with the stored energy. All these steps we are taking now are just stop gap measures until we can come up with some other energy source. Now, I think the long term goal is to get a hydrogen powered car that is commercially viable. In the back of my head, I personally think that we will eventually wind up with nuclear powered automobiles. Just like the nuclear powered air craft carriers that can run for 20 years before they need to be refueled, autos could do the same thing, eventually

Answer 6

all and sundry is speaking approximately gas intake, abode windows up or down, and aerodynamics; if that is warm, all of us prefer to apply our air con. working an a/c is artwork; artwork takes ability; sure, possibly decrease than the old a/c gadgets from the 60's and 70's yet nevertheless it incredibly is artwork for the motor. no longer something is loose; sure the lighting fixtures use ability too, how approximately that communicate? i comprehend the alternator is making the sunshine yet what do you think of is popping the alternator? And nevertheless you will possibly no longer comprehend it, greater load on an alternator makes it greater durable to tutor. guess what's turning it; the motor; no longer something is loose. lots greater importantly is making beneficial your automobile temperature can cope with the added stress of working the a/c in the process the extremely heat climate. gas isn't inexpensive, neither is rebuilding the genuine end of your motor on account which you overheated it with the added stress of working the a/c. A/C on, watch the temp gauge heavily, if it climbs too lots, turn it off, if it would not, leave it on and be cool, even for some greater cents.

Answer 7

Well it's true the oil companies may not wish to invest in alternative fuels.
But you can... so can everyone on the planet.
So maybe people should ask why don't we all invest in alternative fuels.
Well the fact is it's risky and you may never turn a profit in your life time.
But you don't care about that, so whats stopping you from handing over your life savings for a better world tomorrow?
Yeah some people say the government should do it.
Well the thing is the government doesn't make investments in anything.
But they do give out research grants for things that effect us today... not tomorrow.

Answer 8

it is imposible to run a car on air. even if you did, you would need a huge tank, probably the size of a small blimp, attached to your car and filled with an extremly combustable gas like hydrogen or methane. it would cost thosands of dollars to fill up your tank and you would have blimps foillowing you car and you probably eould have to fill up every 5-7 miles. electric cars are so expensive because they arent mass produced. electric cars are pointless anyway because if you run of electicity, your f*cked. gas engines are always going to be around no matter what.

Answer 9

The invention of the internal combustion engine. Air doesn't burn. Oil companies, tire companies, auto companies, parts companies. None of these folks wanted things to run any other way. Its all about the money. Go research inventions that were "bought" by large manufacturers to make sure they never hit the market.

Answer 10

i JUST GAVE SOME OF THESE ANSWERS BAD RATINGS. sorry caps lock..( I only give bad ratings if they are wrong)......yes you can run a car on air.....

seems the internal combustion engine is just a big air pump...

air in ...air out......rotational movement...

turn a motor over & it acts as an air compressor..

& if you cant run motors on air.....how does the air grinder work...air in..spins the impeller impeller conected to grinding wheel...if we then put a car wheel in place of the grinding wheel......instant transport...just got to scale it up a bit....lol

& as for Electric.. Copper isnt cheap..& thers a lot in an electric car......& batteries cost a fortune to....not to mention the control circuits to make it all work..