Tata Motors to introduce Air Car - (A Car That Runs on Air is Coming to India)

Tata Motors to introduce Air Car -


Tata Motors is taking giant strides and making history for itself. First
the Landrover-Jaguar deal, then the world's cheapest car and now it is also
set to introduce the car that runs on air, compressed air to be specific.

With fuel prices touching nearly $150 per barrel, it is about time we heard
some breakthrough!
India's largest automaker Tata Motors 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 by August of 2009.

The Air Car, called the MiniCAT could cost around Rs. 3,50,000 ($ 8177) in
India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels.

The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 85 ($ 2). Tata motors also plans to
launch the world's cheapest car, Tata Nano priced famously at One lakh
rupees(£1200) by October.

The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that
is glued not welded and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air.
Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio
transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc.
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
100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double
that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of
driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of
motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 105 kmph.
Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted
petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and
at a cost of approximately 100 rupees, the car will be ready to go another
200-300 kilometers.


As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be
connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours. Due
to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the
oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000Km.] 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.