You can buy an air powered car by 2016
(Image from gizmag.com)
Being an automotive enthusiast I really love when the automotive industry finds new and interesting ways to help the environment and promote sustainability. For those who didn’t know the Toyota Prius (besides being environmentally devastating) is not by any means the first mass produced electric car. In fact, in 1912 38% of cars registered in America were electric, 40% were steam powered and only 22% were powered by gasoline. Electric cars actually date back more than 185 years with the first electric propelled vehicle created by Anyos Jedlik, dating from 1828 but that is more a side note. What I want to point out is that hybrid vehicles are nothing even remotely new and sometimes the best ideas that are coming out now are modern updates of old ideas and in this case it is Peugeot Citroën’s new hybrid system. What is unique about this hybrid is that it is not battery powered at all and is therefore very environmentally friendly and is infinitely sustainable because it really an update of the steam powered car. This hybrid system runs on compressed air which is drawn in from the outside and alone can power the car for speeds of up to 70km per hour before the gas motor takes over. That means for city driving and general commuting the car will run on just air. When combined with the gas engine the car will achieve 81 mpg. Peugeot Citroën says that this compressed air system is much less complicated and expensive than traditional battery and electric hybrids and is easily adaptable to their entire current product line. This is not some future technology but something that is actively being worked on and the company says that the engine will be available to the public starting in 2016! So in just a few years you can say that your car literally runs on air. It is innovative (or oldovative) ideas like this which are leading to a much more environmentally healthy and sustainable future for all of us.