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Some details on the specifications, range etc of the Airpod can be found here, but some of the stats are in French.

Also, Tata originally signed the agreement in 2007. Five year old news?

Lastly, from the MDI website about the Airpod: This latest version of AirPod... [has] a base consisting of a composite sandwich of fiberglass and polyurethane... [and a] a cast aluminium frame. More details from that link.

Some details on the specifications, range etc of the Airpod can be found here, but some of the stats are in French.

Also, Tata originally signed the agreement in 2007. Five year old news?

Lastly, from the MDI website about the Airpod: This latest version of AirPod... [has] a base consisting of a composite sandwich of fiberglass and polyurethane... [and a] a cast aluminium frame. More details from that link.

Yes, the air car - http://www.mdi.lu/english/ . No one wants this car released, because it's essentially maintenance-free. From car repair shops to electric energy / oil companies, everybody wants this idea dead, especially because it takes the production of the energy out of the hands of the powers that be.

For a petrol vehicle, you need, well, petrol. Which fuels governments policies, wars, big money, you name it.
For electricity, even though it's simpler, the mass provider are still the Big Guys (R).

For compressed air, one can it quite easily: from oil to electricity to a cow pushing a mill's lever, compressed air is not that hard. And this removes CONTROL. Can you imagine, every small group of people, able to produce their own energy? Afghan rebels turning wind power into fuel to their cars? Small villages in north korea able to move their vehicles with water mills powered with monsoon rains? It's chaos!

We have a producer in France (MDI), which build "CAT" engines and cars.

See http://www.mdi.lu/

I don't believe it's quite the same thing, but this group has been working on a similar idea for a few years now. Only problem is I don't think the latter vehicle would be so splendid in the snowy North.

I think it's a little sad and I would love to see a power-meter that shows exactly how much power you use when you use it. I think that would make people think.

It's here already. I know there are others, but I found this quickly with GG and didn't care to look for more examples.

Why isn't everyone here trying to make their home and car as efficient as comfortably possible? It's the "techie" thing to do.

Simple. ROI. Some of us still have limited finances and ROI is a big deal. For those that it isn't, I'm sure many are already doing it. My dad built a house in the 1980s with double-thick walls, excess insulation, innovative heating, balanced electrical, non-traditional construction materials, etc. While the rest of our neighborhood used two pigs of propane (or more) per annum, we could make it over a year on one tank. When I'm in the same position, I'll do the same. Until then, I need to keep the pantry stocked with food and the car filled with fuel.

Speaking of cars, this thing is pretty cool.

I don't think electric would be a good idea, although it would be better than gas.

The taxis would need recharging quite often and batteries would soon lose their performance and would need to be replaced. That's a lot of lithium and other heavy metals which can be recycled but they do cost a lot.

A better alternative would be air powered cars, especially as current gas stations could be fitted easily with pressurized air pumps, filling the car's tanks in about 5-10 minutes, at the same time they are filled with regular fuel.

See this page or go directly to this design which looks quite OK for a taxi, having both air and petrol, with up to about 1000 miles of range (using both air or regular fuel).

The 13.000 euro price (about $17k) will most likely drop a lot if they get big orders - and who knows, maybe they'd be willing to create a start-up in US, with US employees.

I don't think electric would be a good idea, although it would be better than gas.

The taxis would need recharging quite often and batteries would soon lose their performance and would need to be replaced. That's a lot of lithium and other heavy metals which can be recycled but they do cost a lot.

A better alternative would be air powered cars, especially as current gas stations could be fitted easily with pressurized air pumps, filling the car's tanks in about 5-10 minutes, at the same time they are filled with regular fuel.

See this page or go directly to this design which looks quite OK for a taxi, having both air and petrol, with up to about 1000 miles of range (using both air or regular fuel).

The 13.000 euro price (about $17k) will most likely drop a lot if they get big orders - and who knows, maybe they'd be willing to create a start-up in US, with US employees.

What about a car powered by air? Personally, if the cost were right, I'd get this one.

Electric cars have been lingering at the high point because no significant car has been rough to market. The Tesla and the Volt appear to be the firsts going there.

What about these?

MDI Enterprises S.A. - Air compressed cars
Electric Tiger Star Truck
Zenn Motor Company
Tata Motors
GM before the Volt
Zap Electric Cars
Global Electric Motors
Phoenix Motorcars
Dynasty Electric Cars
Nice Car Company
Reva
I could keep going but let me Google that for you.

We need to take the first steps if we are ever to migrate from oil to electric.

I agree.

yeah, I did mean battery-powered cars. slip of the tongue there.

I just realised, my rant was somewhat indiscriminating. I'm aware that biodiesel can be gained from animal fat and the like. I think being annoyed that many politicians are willing to sacrifice essentials for commodities blind sided me there. whilst biodiesel would certainly make us less dependent on oil, it still isn't a long term solution for environmental problems, seeing as the emissions are as dirty if not dirtier (higher micro-particle count, etc).
the leading automobile association here (Germany, ADAC) advises not to use biodiesel in modern diesel cars. I forget the technicalities, but some components get clogged from the thicker and less pure biodiesel, forcing a more frequent exchange of these parts and shortening the life span of the vehicle. I do, however, take solace in the fact, that when the oil wells run dry, we will have an alternative for the transition period.

I agree with your stance on hydrogen - it is unsafe and inefficient. But as a type of capacitor that can use basically any form of power to be created, it's a great step forward.
I like your idea about synth'ed hydrocarbons. I know little about chemistry, sounds like something I should read up on.

I just remembered why I actually posted in the first place. The air powered car! it runs on compressed air! there might've even been a /. story about it. here are some googly hits:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4217016.html
http://www.mdi.lu/english/
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Air_car_runs_on_compressed_air_0104.html
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=car+that+runs+on+compressed+air&btnG=Search
how about that then? all the benefits of hydrogen, very few of the drawbacks.

The compressed air engine designed by engineer Guy Nègre (CQFD Air Solution Sarl) is even better than zero emission as it consume CO2. He calls it negative pollution ! And he is selling plants to build them. Here is some info :
english : http://www.e.volution.co.za/. Go see it, it is worth !
press : wired article, very good like every wired article.
home : http://www.mdi.lu/ (french).