After a little research and several brainstorms on how to develop a new power source for vehicles, it dawned on me to get an understanding of how the internal combustion engine works.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm

I noticed that the engine is essentially timing small explosions by mixing air and gas, then igniting them. thus providing kinetic energy.
THIS IS THE ONLY REASON CARS USE GASOLINE.

So, instead of making something from scratch, why not reinvent the engine?

Instead of having an explosion power a car, why not use something just as potent, and a hell of alot cleaner.

what is this mystery substance? take a deep breath, air.

Thats right, air. if you were to use compressed air to push the piston down, then either recycle the air into the system, or have air as your exhaust, you have a clean, cheap car.

So where does the compressed air come from?

-deus-

Well, if you were to hook up a large Co2 tank ( probably 2000psi) with an optional air compressor on the tank, you could directly feed co2 into the air intake valve.

Already been done:

http://trak.in/tags/business/2008/07/01/tata-motors-air-car-minicat/


And, heres the thread in Gearheads about it:

http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?t=2144034

That still doesn't answer where you get the compressed air from. Compressed air is a reasonable store of energy but is not a fuel.

A Luxembourgish company called MDI developed the tech, then sold it to Tata Motors in India. They will be producing it for about $5,100. It only has a 90km range.

Where does the energy used for the compressor come from? Unless you live in a country such as Iceland you will be burning carbon.

How about we just take over China and make them our slaves and travel everywhere in rickshaws?

Negros have stronger backs.