What is this?
Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors thinks so.
Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors thinks so.
It is an auto engine that runs on air. That's right, air not gas or diesel or electric but just the air around us. Take a look.
Tata Motors of India has scheduled the Air Car to hit Indian streets by August 2011
The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N. For Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air to push its engine's pistons and make the car go.
The Air Car, called the "Mini CAT" could cost around 365,757 rupees in India or $8,177 US.
The Mini CAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis, a body of fiberglass that is glued not welded and powered by compressed air. A Microprocessor is used to control all electrical functions of the car. One tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, turn signals and every other electrical device on the car. Which are not many.
The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.
There are no keys, just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100 KM, that's about a tenth the cost of a car running on gas.
It's mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car, a factor which makes it a perfect choice for city motorists. The car has a top speed of 105 KM per hour or 60 mph and would have a range of around 300 km or 185 miles between refuels.
Refilling the car will take place at adapted gas stations with special air compressors. A fill up will only take two to three minutes and costs approximately 100 rupees and the car will be ready to go another 300 kilometers.
This car can also be filled at home with it's on board compressor. It will take 3-4 hours to refill the tank but it can be done while you sleep.
Because there is no combustion engine, changing the 1 liter of vegetable oil is only necessary every 50,000 KM or 30,000 miles. Due to it's simplicity, there is very little maintenance to be done on this Car.
This Air Car almost sound to good to be true. We'll see in August.
Hat Tip; Kack
It still takes energy to run this thing and energy can't be created out of nothing(unless one decides to split an atom or two). It takes electricity to compress the air at the "filling stations" and it takes electricity to run the on board compressor. It would be far more efficient to just have a little electric motor in the vehicle, if it were not so inconvenient to carry a 10 mile long extension cord.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous, come on just have a little vision in your life. Trying to be a critic of something that will be a great benefit to mankind deserves more enthusiasm from readers like yourself who are skeptical of new inventions that are not created by large corporations. What a hit to oil and gas producers and what a joy to environmentalists. It's time products like this come to light and do good for the people and not the major automobile manufacturers. Most "filling stations" make more money selling candy bars, pop, CD's, etc than the 5 to 10 cents per gallon of gasoline. Compressor stations with a small fee are just a drawing card like the sale of gasoline. And yes, you can even buy extension cords at many "filling stations".
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