( Air-Hybrid Blog )

But they might be on to something...

Posted on 7 December 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags: air-hybrid, Scuderi Cycle, Scuderi engine, emissions, green car, auto

The last line of the article could be the most important: "The researchers don't completely dismiss the technology, however. They say a hybrid using an air tank recharged by an internal combustion engine is more efficient and 'could eventually compete with hybrid electric vehicles.'"

 

This comes from a recent story out of Wired.com that discusses a study from Environmental Research Letters about vehicles that run on compressed air. The cars that have been touted to be the "ultimate green vehicles" may have its issues. It's the same technology often confused with the Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine. But there's a big difference: The "air cars" just run on compressed air. The Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine is an internal combustion engine that stores wasted energy in the form of compress air. And then reuses that wasted energy to supplement the combustion process taking place in the Scuderi Cycle.

 

Indeed, there will be a use and niche for air cars. But in the meantime, the researchers believe that the technology has a long way to go before being considered a viable option to the vehicle technology on the road today. The main reason for falling short: "Thermodynamic efficiency loss."