MDI's "AirCar" officially becomes the FlowAIR
By Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 10th 2008 4:13PM
posted Oct 10th 2008 4:13PM
MDI's compressed air vehicle has been unofficially known as the AirCar for years now, but it looks like the company is now finally putting a stop to that, and officially bestowing the decidedly less catchy "FlowAIR" name on the car. What's more, it's also gotten official with no less than four different vehicles based on the technology, including the One FlowAIR open-top model, the Mini FlowAIR three-seater (pictured above), the City FlowAIR truck-type vehicle, and the Multi FlowAIR urban public transportation concept, all of which have been making the rounds under various guises for some time now. From the looks of it, the One FlowAIR will be the first out of the gate in 2009 (in France, at least), with the rest to follow over the next few years.
[Via AutoblogGreen]
[Via AutoblogGreen]
SHHHHH....don't tell the oil companies that a car can run using air...they will try to find a way to charge us for it.
Um... this car doesn't run on air. It runs on COMPRESSED air.
Most gas stations already sell compressed air, so I don't see you point. Oh, wait... you didn't have one.
This car was supposed to be released this past summer. Now it's 2009, speaking of disappointment.
Um Compressed air is air... and if you don't get my point about my post you have a problem.
Its a really awsome engine. Electric companies use compressed air underground tanks today to store energy for generators during off hours. Its way more effective than lead acid batteries. Unfortunately, this car and its engine has been a concept for 13+ years. It, like the electric car, will probably never see the light of day during our lifetime.
Jesus H on a bike why do we keep having to go through this.....
You can't just fill this thing with an ordinary compressor. It requires too much pressure. And air doesn't compress itself. Compressors require a power source such as electricity which could be be generated by fossil fuels from what? Wait for it.....
OIL COMPANIES
They don't have to figure a way to charge you for it. They already have it.
looks like a cartoon prius.
I was thinking the new bang bus...
More like the flame bus.
Ive made nicer looking terds.
Well, then for you this is the breakthrough, a new definition to the word ugly
This all started with a comment about a turd?
If you go far enough back into time, will there be a point in time where nothing exists? not even an atom to start a big bang?
And if so, where did anything come from? Where did the first atom come from? Where did space to move in come from? Does that mean that there has to be something called "God" that we don't understand that created everything? Huh?
Are you in the wrong thread, high, or just crazy?
To put it shortly, no. Your question is flawed. "You" couldn't go back in time this early because nothing would exist, therefore if a being such as yourself was to go back to the beginning of time, your essence would become the very material that all matter would be comprised of, which contradicts your original statement.
And that car looks like a pokemon.
Why do we think some objects are ugly and some objects are pretty. Is it biological? Is it related to how we perceive human beings as being ugly or pretty?
One car looks good, another car looks bad. There seems to be a lot of agreement on which cars look good or bad.
If a dog were intelligent, would it agree with the majority of humans as to which objects were ugly and which objects were pretty?
Or would it like shaggy looking cars with spots on them?
Well, I agree with him. I'm a Christian and what a better way than go to the place where people go and give them a question? In theory: great, in practice you neglect it, low rank it and then get a comeback without putting a thought into it. Good job thinking community.
@Jay,
So if you agree that at some point, nothing even existed, then where did anything come from? Did it just explode itself into space? Did it will itself into existence?
Seriously, I have no idea, and would like someone knowledgeable in physics to describe this to me.
Do not feed the troll..
Your logical collapses under its own premise. If you believe God exists because "something" had to create the universe from "nothing", then what created God? To counter the ad infinitum problem, people such as yourself will claim, "God is infinite". Of course, once again, you undermine your own logic. If you concede that the infinite is possible, then why do you assume there was ever time where there was "nothing"?
@pavlindrom
Wow. I can't believe that you actually posted that statement. It sounds as though you are trying to justify a SPAM campaign.
"Well, I agree with him. I'm a Christian and what a better way than go to the place where people (read: check email, tech blog, middle of the subway, etc.) go and give them a question? (read: hey man, you wanna buy a watch, wanna make your penis larger, wanna send me $10,000 in legal fees, so I can send you your eleventy-billion dollar inheritance, etc.?) In theory: great"
In reality: you're an idiot!
@artie
well, physicists usually say that stuff is finite, that atoms were created at some point in time. that's why i don't concede that atoms are "infinite", but will definitely consider that something that even physicists don't understand as "infinite". maybe we could call that god.
However, if you believe that atoms were infinite, and believe that my "logical" collapses under its own premise, then i suggest that you read Coming of Age in the Milky Way to learn something about the universe. Then you could come back and try to be authoritative and try to justify typing in your asshole authoritative style and continue showing the world how insecure you are.
The flaw in the argument is in the line "that at some point, nothing even existed, then where did anything come from?" This is not a scientific question because it starts from an unproven assumption. No need to introduce magic or deities if there's no proof of this first link in the chain of reasoning.
And for the record, I don't like the look of that car at all.
@Chris Aubeck
Are you saying that the fact that nothing existed at a certain point in time is an assumption?
I believe it is a credible theory that any science major will be able to explain to you.
in other words, most scientists now accept that the universe began suddenly and at a specific point in time.
''~``
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This does look like buying "air".
It looks like these 45km cars, does it really go faster? And how well does this hold up in collision with lets say a Hummer, or if it makes any changes, I even think a Toyota Aygo would crush this thing like a piece of butter in a microwave.
it looks like a front-end collision would make this thing flip over.
How well do motorcycles hold up getting hit by hummers? Or the ever so eco friendly huffy?
Does this mean we are all doomed to drive hummers because of reckless hummer drivers?
F'n SUVs. They waste space, fuel, materials, they pollute, and now they make people fear driving in something which is actually reasonably sized.
By the way this car doesn't actually look too unsafe to me, but the front is indeed weird. I wonder when they'll figure out that new technologies don't require butt-ugly new looks.
"how well does this hold up in collision with lets say a Hummer"
If that is the sole criterion for purchasing, then you should go ahead and buy that Gmord Subcursion that's on sale right now. They are *really* looking for customers like you.
"And how well does this hold up in collision with lets say a Hummer?"
That's what she said.
*zing!*
-Taylor
WHY!, why it has to be sooo ugly!
It would be really cool if you could just connect the car to an air compressor to 'fill it up'.
I'm fairly certain that was the whole point of this car, just in case you missed that part.
No, you can't. It takes a lot more pressure to "charge" this thing than an ordinary compressor provides.
I think it should be named the U.R.K.E.L.
I'll figure out what the letters mean later
Urinate Regularly, Kicking Electric Llamas
...
Wait no.
I'm really not liking those 350Z headlights on it.. Not to mention the whole body is just UGLY. Why can't companies with great ideas make a regular looking car that doesn't stand out so much? :/
I guarantee you this will be a hit in California.
Maybe they can, but this is not a company with a great idea. Compressed air is great for power density, lousy for energy density. And quite lossy for recharging. It's at best on par with electric, but you need more infrastructure to use it.
Berkley + Ugly alternatively powered cars = Me moving to Japan
But can you fill it with Smug?
It comes pre-filled with a lifetime supply of Smug.
Until it breaks, and a Gas powered tow truck has to save you. Then the smug is gone.
-Taylor
Paint it yellow and call it the Flow-BEE (Haircut anyone?)
I want this car. The technology is sound. I have seen demos of it and the car can be made and sold at under 10,000 for the 2 door 4 seater model while still making a nice profit. I could see this getting more feature, a solar charger for the air compressor and also home high pressure air compressor for home fueling for easily under $15,000
Again, you're leaping to the belief that "any science major will be able to explain...the fact that nothing existed at a certain point in time." I'd like to meet all those science majors who will "explain the fact" that nothing becomes something.
As you so readily, yet clumsily, use the words "theory," "explain," "any science major" and "credible" in a blog post, I can only conclude you're a little out of touch with modern theories on the origin of the universe yourself.
chris, i understand that if you are not given an explanation, it makes completely no sense.
one of the scientists who now believe that the universe spontaneously was created from "nothing" is Stephen Hawking. Read his stuff, it is extremely interesting and you might become a believer in that theory afterward.
be careful though, it is addictive reading.
That was for zoopthegame. I swear I pressed "reply."
god DAMN is that thing ugly.
Everyone seems to be forgetting that to compress air requires energy. That energy is usually in the form of a gasoline engine powered air compressor. So, where exactly is the greenness of this technology.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for innovation. But this seems to fall short in so many ways. IMHO.
As far as the universe is concerned, I believe that the scientists are under a misconception that they are seeing stars and galaxies, apparently, moving outwards. What if, everything moves outward for a while--say, two billion years---then moves inwards for a while--say, another two billion years. If you are only in existence during the outward phase, then you may make some false assumptions. Again, just my humble opinion.
You could be running a solar- or wind-powered compressor.
I think a Electric powered Air compressor is far more common then GAS. So your powering it from the electric grid just like a electric car. I would also assume a Air powered Car would be far cheaper to make then a electric car because battery's can be really expensive and will at some point have to be replaced. Filling a tank with Air, the only thing you have to worry about is the tank rusting out. Will have to be drained regularly.
@Benson - "Maybe they can, but this is not a company with a great idea. Compressed air is great for power density, lousy for energy density. And quite lossy for recharging. It's at best on par with electric, but you need more infrastructure to use it."
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "you need *more* infrastructure" (emphasis mine). However, even if it is only on par with an electric, it would hold two primary advantages over electric: 1) The infrastructure already exists (gas stations everywhere already have air compressors, many of them free of charge, for your tires; and 2) It takes considerably less time to fill an air tank than it does to charge a battery.
If the concepts actually play out in the real world this is essentially an electric car with energy storage in compressed air instead of in a battery, making it theoretically much more flexible to use in daily operation. And it is not hard to imagine hooking up a solar powered, or very small gas powered air compressor to this car to make for a hybrid version.
While I'm sure that gasoline powered air compressors exist, most of my experience with air compressors is those of the electrically powered variety - in workshops, private garages, and *gas stations*.
Fueled by air..
Body by playskool.
I just looked at their site. These people really need some designers. All their cars look like plastic toy cars for 2-year olds.
Yech.
He Who Will Take A Prius Any Day.
@Chris Aubeck
Chris, I understand what you mean, and it is probably clear to a lot of physicists that we both have no idea what we are talking about. We both definitely have less than the knowledge of someone who has read two wikipedia articles on cosmology.
I use the words that I use because I don't want to sound like I have any authority on what I am talking about. If I wanted to sound like an authority on cosmology, I could easily use other words that sound more authoritative. I am sure you are aware of the number of authoritative-sounding posts on the internet.
If you read some books or articles on the origin of the universe, you'll find that some scientists will explain how they believe that the universe came from "nothing."
Addendum: re: universe.
The phases, outward/inward, repeat ad infinitum.
I see, mercedes/swatch smart is cute but not this one. You're asking for alternatively powered cars, but won't buy this one because is ugly. Americans heh
It's an excellent piece of design - very driveable, excellent visibility especially for parking and squeezing through traffic gaps in the city, kind to bikes and pedestrians in minor collisions, maximum use of interior space for people and their junk, good illumination at night on dark city streets, panels easily replaceable after traffic bumps, etc.
Sure, not quite as cute as Smart but just as practical, in fact slightly more so for inner-city driving. You have to think beyond exterior looks and anticipate how this car would work in your real world. And work it will. Come back late 2009 and tell me it doesn't...
And hummers are fun in a once-in-a-lifetime-drive way. But they suck as everyday transport. Too Damn Big.
Running a car off compressed air is the exact opposite of green. This car needs the air to be compressed to 4,200psi. Do you have any idea how much electricity it takes to create that kind of pressure? This thing is still running off gas indirectly, and it actually uses MORE gas than it would if it used a normal combustion engine. FAIL
What the hell are you talking about? How does it use gasoline? Its an AIR run car it uses AIR. how does it use gas 'indirectly'? explain please.
@Steve
The car itself does not run on gas--not disputing that. However, to put the air into the car at a pressure that would make it useful, you have to use an air compressor. Most air compressors use either electricity, via power plants, or (more probably) a small gasoline engine. This is what makes it a non-green technology. That is, unless the electricity is being provided by other green technologies, i.e.; wind, solar, nuclear, etc...
@Steve
Last time I did an analysis on the amount of electricity it takes to run this car. The amount of electricity it consumes is the same as a Tesla Roadster. This means a much heavier crash tested electric sports car with 250hp is as efficient as this "air" car that has 25-40hp.
In short, you don't just put air in it, you have to use electricity (or gasoline if it is a gas powered air compressor) to COMPRESS the air and that is what uses energy. The advantage with air is that it can supposed fill up faster with an industrial pump (3-4 minutes).
Since this compresses air wouldn't this car make a ton of noise to pressurize the air?
All you guys keep basing your comments from an evolutionists stand point. You say the world (Earth) has been around for 2 billion years? Did it really take us 1,999,998,248 years to control electricity? And then just a few years later we come from capturing electricity to the invention of the computer. Evolution has so many flaws. Even Darwin denied Evolution on his death bed.
People will always argue Evolution and Creation. People will say "The Egyptians worshiped the son god, Ra, because they did not understand why the son came up every morning." "The pagans worshiped women because they didn't understand that the act of sex would bring about a child 9 months later." People say the say that religion is used to explain what we do not know. Both of these examples can be scientifically proven why they occur. The beginning of time can never be proven however.
I am a Christian and believe in God. The truth is, every human has a desire to meet their Creator. Whether their Creator is a chemical bang or maybe aliens from another planet. However, God shows himself all the time. Look how neat and orderly our world is. Do you honestly think a "big bang" could cause a perfect food chain to balance our world. And create the act of stimulus in all living creatures. I didn't think so. Show me one flaw in our world and one flaw in God. Then I'll believe all you evolutionists. But until you can do that I will stand firm in my faith.
-A 14 year old
Ryan, there's a book called "The Urantia Book". It answers many of life's questions. Start reading it as if it was a science fiction novel. When you've finished reading it, make up your own mind whether it is fiction or truth.
Complete text is available at: http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/
Ok, so I got a cup of coffee to keep me up and I got over my boredom. I read down to wear it says "1. The Father's Name" and it starts off by saying God's name is different in other universes. So, already this book is coming from an Evolutionist stand point. I guess I can already say this book is "science fiction."
P.S. God's name is Yahweh
I guess it didn't post my other comment about the very beginning of the book. In the first paragraph it talks about a prophet. It's not specific at all as to who this prophet is. I mean already I don't see a well structured book. I'm sure an average teenager could write a book with this much structure in an afternoon.
Wow I want one! Oh wait, it's being released in France. Because cute cars are illegal in the states?
So frustrating!
This is vaporware. For over 10 years now, MDI has repeatedly made announcements of cars that will "be in production next year". Nothng has EVER been delivered.
The only prototypes ever built only ran 6 miles on a full charge of air.
Lots of "hot air". Nothing delivered.
I assume that this is more of the same. The basic problem is that the energy density of compressed air storage is lower than that of electric batteries. A related problem is that there is very low efficiency in converting grid electrical power to energy stored in compressed air. Much of the energy consumed is thrown away as heat is generated in the compressed air.
Ask yourself why we haven't seen any prototypes undergoing tests. The prototype vehicles should already have been built if they are truly going to go into production in 2009. There is a huge difference betweent the 6 mile range of their only prototype and the inflated claims they keep making.
Dayuuuummm......haven't these people heard the saying if you have nothing good to say...shut up.
These engineers are trying to come up with something that will at least help us with the global warming situation. Imagine these little cars goin round pumping out clean air. I salute these people for trying to make the world a better place. It may not work as well as some people might expect in the beginning but i have faith that it will only improve. Ugly...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Remember the model T, now that was pretty you think?
So i say, hang in there MDI its only going to get better. We need more innovations like this to rehabilitate this planet after the last century of pollution by all mankind. We have to wean ourselves of petroleum because ultimately its going to run out, the more options we have the better off we will be.
I will be the first to line up to buy one of these when it does come out.
what a bunch of idiots! this is a great idea, youall go back to you gas guzzlin job at pollution is us and eat some poop!