Editing Compressed-air car (section)

{{Short description|Vehicle that uses a motor powered by stored compressed air.}}
{{redirect|Air car||aircar (disambiguation){{!}}aircar}}
{{speculation|date=August 2023}}

A '''compressed-air car''' is a [[compressed-air vehicle]] powered by [[pressure vessels]] filled with [[compressed air]]. It is propelled by the release and expansion of the air within a [[Pneumatic motor|motor adapted to compressed air]]. The car might be powered solely by air, or combined (as in a hybrid electric vehicle) with other fuels such as [[gasoline]], [[Diesel fuel|diesel]], or an electric plant with [[regenerative braking]].

Compressed-air cars use a [[thermodynamic process]]. Air cools when expanding and heats when compressed. Thermal energy losses in the compressor and tankage reduce the [[capacity factor]] of [[compressed air]] systems.

This technology might develop into an inexpensive, clean transportation technology. The energy, vehicles and compressors might be produced easily by decentralized methods, even [[circular industry]]. Using plastic might permit open source fabrication using [[numerical control]], including [[additive manufacturing]]. The compressed air for such vehicles might be produced easily by common types of [[renewable energy]]. For example, multistage [[air compressor]]s and intercoolers or [[hydraulic pump]]s might be attached directly to [[trompe]]s, [[hydropower]], [[VAWT]] [[wind turbines]] or [[stirling engine]]s using a [[solar concentrator]]. Direct mechanical compression avoids the Carnot inefficiencies of heat engines. Insulated storage of compressed air avoids [[energy conversion]] and battery storage. Heat-based systems might use tankage of solar-heated [[molten salt]]s driving a [[heat exchanger]] rather than an onboard [[heat recovery]] system. Electric energy, [[electric grid]]s and their issues might be avoided.