Human intelligence allows us to use technology to adapt our environments faster than evolutionary timescales. If people move to a colder climate they soon figure out how to make hardier clothing and they don't need to wait many generations for natural selection to give rise to make them particularly hairy. This is the great advantage of evolving into a technology-capable species and the reason humans live everywhere on earth and at least one place orbiting it. Human survivability is now more strongly governed by our technological evolution than our biological evolution.
True, compressed air is only an energy storage method, not an energy "source." This is also true of hydrogen fuel cells and other electric car concepts. However it is rash to condemn the technology. The electrical power plant that powers the air compressor (or other energy storage device) could produce zero emissions, such as hydroelectric, wind, tide, and solar power plants. While it is impractical to make a car that is directly powered by hydroelectricity (albeit amusing to design), a car that is indirectly powered by renewable energy is still "green." The car is not a complete emissions solution in itself, but it could be an effective element in the solution.
Slashdot Mirror
Wow. Great.
Human intelligence allows us to use technology to adapt our environments faster than evolutionary timescales. If people move to a colder climate they soon figure out how to make hardier clothing and they don't need to wait many generations for natural selection to give rise to make them particularly hairy. This is the great advantage of evolving into a technology-capable species and the reason humans live everywhere on earth and at least one place orbiting it. Human survivability is now more strongly governed by our technological evolution than our biological evolution.
True, compressed air is only an energy storage method, not an energy "source." This is also true of hydrogen fuel cells and other electric car concepts. However it is rash to condemn the technology. The electrical power plant that powers the air compressor (or other energy storage device) could produce zero emissions, such as hydroelectric, wind, tide, and solar power plants. While it is impractical to make a car that is directly powered by hydroelectricity (albeit amusing to design), a car that is indirectly powered by renewable energy is still "green." The car is not a complete emissions solution in itself, but it could be an effective element in the solution.
I heard Ford has just developed a new shade of red paint! That's kind of like automotive innovation...
Space Lasers... Is there anything they can't do?