Jem Stansfield is not exactly the average tinkerer. He has a degree in aeronautics and is an inventor and special effects technician. But still, his DIY air-powered motorcycle, the first of its kind according to him, is quite cool. How Does an Air-Powered Motorcycle Work?
Unlike the hilarious single-piston air-powered bicycle that he previously made, this air-powered bike can actually be used in real-world situations.
He took carbon-fiber air tanks that are usually used by firefighters as part of their breathing equipment and connected them to two rotary air engines that drive the rear wheel. One of the benefits of using compressed air over batteries is that you can recharge in a few seconds.
Of course, the compressor works on electricity, so that's not always a clean power source. But even if your local utility uses coal, if you recharge at night or off peak, chances are you are using power that would be wasted otherwise because coal power plants take too long to shut down and restart, so they are often kept producing at night.
But it is with a clean electricity source for the compressor that the air-powered motorcycle becomes a truly green ride. Any companies paying attention? A commercially available air-powered bike would be great. One more option for people wanting to drop their car...
http://www.treehugger.com/air-motorcycle-002.jpg
Specifications for Jem's Air-Powered Motorcycle
Top speed is 18 mph (29 kph), range is 7 miles (11.2 kilometers) between compressed air fill ups.
Could definitely be used for short commutes. Even better would be if it was turned into a hybrid, with pedal-power as an option.