World's First Air-Powered Car: Zero Emissions by Next Summer

India’s largest automaker is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets in August of 2008.

Barring any last-minute design changes on the way to production, the Air Car should be surprisingly practical. The $12,700 CityCAT, one of a handful of planned Air Car models, can hit 68 mph and has a range of 125 miles. It will take only a few minutes for the CityCAT to refuel at gas stations equipped with custom air compressor units; MDI says it should cost around $2 to fill the car’s carbon-fiber tanks with 340 liters of air at 4350 psi. Drivers also will be able to plug into the electrical grid and use the car’s built-in compressor to refill the tanks in about 4 hours.

Of course, the Air Car will likely never hit American shores, especially considering its all-glue construction. But that doesn’t mean the major automakers can write it off as a bizarre Indian experiment — MDI has signed deals to bring its design to 12 more countries, including Germany, Israel and South Africa.

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d1sinfo - 5/31/2007 12:22:17 PM

+3 Boost

Hmmm, is energy more easily and efficiently extracted on board an automobile via compressed air storage or electrical storage via battery?

This is way cool to think about

Designer1 - 5/31/2007 1:51:57 PM

+2 Boost

This is not the world's first production air car! There's a private French company that's been producing air cars for years now, they use them as taxies. It actually looks just like this one too.

jm69 - 5/31/2007 4:43:21 PM

+1 Boost

it's the same french company, MDI, based both in south of France and Luxembourg. Guy Negre is the inventor.
web site (to be developped !) : www.mdi.lu
french Bulletin Board, more 'fresh' (in french with some english translations) :
http://air-car-concept.bb-fr.com

enjoy !

jt716 - 5/31/2007 2:50:03 PM

+1 Boost

wow those wheels are small..

mp2dtw - 5/31/2007 10:51:54 PM

+1 Boost

At least if you have a flat a bike shop might be able to help.

jm69 - 6/1/2007 1:25:05 PM

+1 Boost

Car is VERY light, about 500-700 kg, and all is done to limit power consumption...

Lexus - 5/31/2007 3:41:00 PM

+1 Boost

Wow! this is really impressive, no more fuel just air to run my car.

JUGNU - 5/31/2007 3:45:12 PM

+1 Boost

India,producing this.

Impressive.

JUGNU

Rupert - 5/31/2007 3:51:19 PM

+1 Boost

india has some very clever people.
India makes the G wizz, the little electric car.

Rupert - 5/31/2007 7:20:13 PM

+1 Boost

By your tone I can sort of tell it isn't going to be a little puff of air.

jm69 - 6/1/2007 1:37:12 PM

+1 Boost

Of course, carbon fiber tanks are tested, i.e. with real gun impacts, and they are made by the same company who works for EADS launch vehicles. Under shock, carbon fiber tank does not explode as Iron, but remains in one piece, as a paper bag.

jm69 - 5/31/2007 4:46:44 PM

+1 Boost

The picture is the one of the "old" model, which acted a long time as a lab. Next generation of cars will be a little bit more pretty (not so difficult !).
see web site, products :
http://www.mdi.lu

EnnNorak - 5/31/2007 11:44:51 PM

+3 Boost

"Zero emissions" is misleading because someone has to generate the electricity to power the compressor. If that involves an electricity plant run on coal, all kinds of emissions will be released into the atmosphere. It may be possible to control emissions more effectively at the generating plant or store compressed air off peak hours for general eletrictricity use.

gsh23 - 6/1/2007 1:02:49 AM

0 Boost

i know you have good intentions but that is the dumbest comment. why dont we go one further? the car will never be emission free because the people in it are breathing out cardon dioxide, omgz! cars are far less efficient than any power plant. power plants are not the problem.

jm69 - 6/1/2007 1:44:03 PM

+1 Boost

"Zero emission", depending on how you "produce" compressed air : it's not possible with conventionnal fuel cars. Air may be compressed by ANY LOCAL energy, wind, solar power (i.e. with Stirling motor), water falls, biomass... and off hours, storage without any loss, etc.
Because of filtration during compression, Air is rejected CLEANER than it was before.

indoctrin8ed - 6/1/2007 5:54:42 PM

+1 Boost

Good point about the zero emissions being BS.

Anyone know what the efficiency rating of an air compressor is that would be used to "charge" one of these?