New Motorcycles Can Fly Through Air
In the next few years we may be flying through air on our motorcycles, literally! Vehicles will be powered by compressed air, instead of gasoline or diesel fuel, and will allow the drivers to fly for a short distance.
Discovery News reports that researchers Yu-Ta Shen and Yean-Ren Hwang of the National Central University in Taiwan, have developed an air-powered motorcycle, which will use the energy in compressed air to drive the motor, instead of gas. Energy will be shot out of a tailpipe to push the motorcycle forward. The current prototype can hold tree gallons of compressed air, which is enough for a driver to fly three-quarters of a mile.
One of the researchers, Hwang, said to Discovery News :
“In Taiwan, air pollution is a very serious problem in the city”. Twenty percent of all air pollution comes from motorcycles, he added, especially carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. These emissions are worse from motorcycles and scooters than cars.
In addition to professor’s opinion, let’s note that air pollution is a big problem, not only in Taiwan, but on the whole planet.
Yet, in some countries, motorcycles are becoming more popular then cars. William Harris, of howstuffworks.com, enlightens us that in United States the number of motorcycles has increased by 34 percent since 1998. He notes what the reasons for this might be:
…Unlike cars, motorcycles allow riders to connect intimately with the driving experience. But it’s not just about adventure and freedom. With gas soaring prices, motorcycles, which can achieve fuel economies as high as 85 miles per gallon, provide an attractive alternative to gas-guzzling cars.
The new air motorcycle will still require some energy to compress air needed to power the engine. The quantity of pollution coming from this energy will depend on what kind of power plant provides electricity to the area in question.
Some experts are not totally convinced that this is the best solution against air pollution. As Shiva Vencat, licensed MDI in air vehicle technology, explained to Wired:
“We don’t think it’s a viable product because you’re talking about a very, very limited amount of compressed air you can put on a bike.”
So, it’s still a question whether the air motorcycles will be effective against air pollution, but one thing is clear: the idea of flying through the air is the most exciting one I have ever heard of.
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