Nitrogen propulsion systems can provide cars with ranges of nearly 400 kilometers in zero emission mode, with lower operating costs than electric vehicles currently considered for mass production. In geographic regions that allow ultra low emission vehicles, the reach and performance of the automotive liquid nitrogen can be significantly expanded by the addition of a small efficient burner. Some of the advantages of a liquid nitrogen-based transport infrastructure are that recharging the energy storage system requires only minutes and there are minimal environmental hazards associated with the manufacture and use of cryogenic "fuel".
Liquid Nitrogen Engine
A liquid nitrogen vehicle is driven by liquid nitrogen, which is stored in a tank. Traditional nitrogen engine designs work by heating the liquid nitrogen in a heat exchanger, drawing heat from ambient air and using the resulting pressurized gas to operate a piston or rotary engine. Liquid nitrogen propel vehicles have been demonstrated, but are not commercially used. One of these vehicles, Liquid Air was demonstrated in 1902.
Liquid nitrogen propulsion can also be incorporated into hybrid systems, for example, electric battery propulsion and fuel tanks to recharge the batteries. This type of system is called a hybrid-nitrogen-electric propulsion. In addition, regenerative braking can also be used in conjunction with this system.
In June 2016 trials will begin in London, UK, at the J Sainsbury supermarket of the food supply vehicle fleet: using a Dearman nitrogen engine to provide power for cooling the food load when the vehicle is stationary and the main motor is off. At present, delivery trucks have mostly second-generation diesel engines to cool the engine when the main engine is off.