Editorials & Other Articles

MindMover

(5,016 posts) Thu Dec 5, 2013, 02:48 AM Dec 2013

This Bamboo Scooter Runs On Nothing But Air ... NO Kidding

Forget gas, now a scooter exists that is designed to run on nothing but air. Specifically, compressed air, the same stuff that’s used to clean computer keyboards, fill scuba tanks, fire paintball guns, and more recently, to power cars.

Like an electric scooter, the Ecomoto is quiet, doesn’t pump pollution into the atmosphere, and if the air compressor used to fill its tank runs on renewable electricity, doesn’t have much of a carbon footprint.

Darby Bicheno, an Australian design student who created the conceptual scooter for a class, says that an air engine runs directly on the air inside, rather than converting energy from a battery. The whole thing is extremely efficient and lightweight.

Though the scooter is just a concept at this point, the air-powered engine is already in use. EngineAir, an Australian company, invented the engine, and has placed it in small pieces of equipment like forklifts.

http://www.fastcoexist.com/3022153/this-bamboo-scooter-runs-on-nothing-but-air

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

This Bamboo Scooter Runs On Nothing But Air ... NO Kidding (Original Post) MindMover Dec 2013 OP

OK, I admit it... daleanime Dec 2013 #1

They've done small concept cars with compressed air engines, too Warpy Dec 2013 #2

The concept is helpful quakerboy Dec 2013 #4

I like the mock debate going on over there.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #3

LOL, I guess you could say that being born cost the world lots of energy .... MindMover Dec 2013 #6

Nifty. k&r n/t Laelth Dec 2013 #5

Wow. Thanks! n/t Judi Lynn Dec 2013 #7

daleanime

(17,796 posts)

1. OK, I admit it...

Reply to MindMover (Original post)

Thu Dec 5, 2013, 02:55 AM

Dec 2013

I want one.

Warpy

(111,261 posts)

2. They've done small concept cars with compressed air engines, too

Reply to MindMover (Original post)

Thu Dec 5, 2013, 03:04 AM

Dec 2013

It's certainly something to think about, although I think scooter propulsion is better than cars because of the latter's need for frequent fill ups. I just wish gas stations would start running their compressors on solar panels. At that point, it would be a good system.

There are a lot of options out there that would allow us to keep personal transportation, especially for us old folks who can no longer manage bicycles.

quakerboy

(13,920 posts)

4. The concept is helpful

Reply to Warpy (Reply #2)

Thu Dec 5, 2013, 05:59 AM

Dec 2013

assuming the air powered engine is reasonably efficient, it provides yet another potential answer to those critiquing the potentials of solar and wind power, providing a fairly simple solution for what to do when the sun is behind clouds or the air is calm.

When the sun is up, use it to compress air. No need for batteries. Then use the air to run a turbine creating electricity during the night.

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)

3. I like the mock debate going on over there....

Reply to MindMover (Original post)

Thu Dec 5, 2013, 05:49 AM

Dec 2013

One guy is saying using a pedal powered bike is STILL bad because it's powered by humans and humans require food and that food requires a LOT of energy to produce, package and transport.

See the benefits of legalizing weed?