Christ, I did mention that it was a "sort of" joke in my post so no explanation was necessary. I called it that because the same conspiracy theory (the oil business collapse) is a favorite of CT nuts connected to David Mamet's "The Water engine" story from years ago....like I said...a joke...obscure, but a joke.
Despite their inherent energy liability (I'm squarely in Michael's corner in this discussion), I can think of a few uses for these things:
1. Tranportation through mine shafts, around oil refineries, within hazardous waste disposal sites or warehouses,or any other place where unintended gas leaks make using an internal combustion engine or even an electric motor a safety hazard.
2. Transportation within the vicinity of a radio telescope. Use of ICE and electric motors produces VERY unwanted EMR at these sites.
3. Transportation of tourists through grottos, caves, rainforests, or other "natural wonder" sites that could be adversely affected by the exhaust of even a single bus making several trips a day.
Otherwise, when they make a cell phone that runs on compressed air, then I'll be impressed.
well, in real life, when i say something sarcastic-like, i usually dont smile, so i figured i'd be as dry here. or, how do you know i wasnt being sincere with that statement, i may actually believe it (winky-smiley)