NewUsed

Find by category:

Exhaust Notes

Nothing But Air

India's Tata Motors is one step closer to producing cars that run on compressed air.

By Claire_Martin May 8, 2012 10:24AM
MDI Air Pod photo by MDI.Vehicles running on compressed air are one step closer to buzzing through the streets of India, according to an announcement by Indian automotive powerhouse Tata Motors. Tata, which in 2007 signed a licensing agreement with Motor Development International, a Swiss developer of compressed-air vehicles, has just completed the first phase of testing the vehicles. 

"[P]roof of the technical concept in Tata Motors vehicles ... has now been successfully completed, with the compressed-air engine concept having been demonstrated in two Tata Motors vehicles," according to a Tata press release. (Tata is better known for its Nano microcar and for taking the reins of Jaguar-Land Rover from Ford.) Phase two, a fine-tuning of the technology, is up next. Fifty engineers and technicians are working on the project.
Founded in 1991, MDI built its first compressed-air engine in 1996. This is how it works, in a nutshell: When the driver presses the accelerator, a rush of compressed air is released into the engine. The air pushes against the pistons, turning the crankshaft. 
 
The engines are blissfully emissions-free, but they don't go particularly fast, maxing out at just 35 mph. As Tata executive S. Ravishankar said in a 2009 interview, “Air is not a fuel, it is just an energy carrier. So a tank full of air does not have the same energy as a tank full of [compressed natural gas]. Any vehicle using only compressed air to run would face problems of range.”
 
But now, according to reporting by the Scientific American, Tata may have tackled this shortcoming with the addition of a small gasoline engine that takes over at 35 mph. 
 
Compressed-air vehicles have had a few false starts, including an aborted launch in the United States in 2010. But if Tata's second phase of testing goes smoothly, its first production compressed-air vehicle, the fiberglass Mini Cat, reportedly is slated to make an August debut. According to Australia's The Motor Report, the Mini Cat will cost $8,000 to buy -- and just $2 to fill.

< Back to Exhaust Notes
User Picture
Write a comment...
3Comments
VerumEternus
May 9, 2012 5:20AM
avatar
These small vehicles, no matter what they're powered by, are inherently unsafe. 
dwight mikk (mikk323)
May 12, 2012 4:52AM
avatar
any worse than a motorcycle?  This is India they dont have the luxury of perfect cars , they are ;ooking for transportation. 
cheap white vegan
May 23, 2012 7:01PM
avatar
the US should encourage these innovative cars  and similar ones from other mfg. by offering designated traffic lanes, like they do for car pools.  That and a tax rebate of some sort might get us all to start thinking differently about what we really need just to get around town.
Report
Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
Categories
100 character limit
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

EXPLORE NEW CARS

MORE ON MSN AUTOS

‘Eleanor’ Mustang sells for $1M‘Eleanor’ Mustang sells for $1M

'Gone in 60 Seconds' movie car driven by Nicolas Cage has a new home.

ABOUT EXHAUST NOTES

Cars are cool, and here at MSN Autos we love everything about them, but we also know they're more than simply speed and style: a car is an essential tool, a much-needed accessory to help you get through your day-to-day life. What you drive is also one of the most important investments you can make, so we'll help you navigate your way through the car buying and ownership experiences. We strive to be your daily destination for news, notes, tips and tricks from across the automotive world. So whether it's through original content from our world-class journalists or the latest buzz from the far corners of the Web, Exhaust Notes helps you make sense of your automotive world.

Have a story idea? Tip us off at exhaustnotes@live.com.