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

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

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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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Source (http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4217016.html)

That is some engine. The serpentine belt must have something to do with the timing of the engine. I would like to hear it run. That has got to be the most intriguing thing I have seen in a while, engineering wise.

That has got to be the most intriguing thing I have seen in a while...

I take it you havent seen or read the Addendum to Volume 14 of Basic Pookanese?

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Of course, the Air Car will likely never hit American shores, especially considering its all-glue construction.I wonder what exactly are the shortcomings of having an "all-glue construction"? Does this imply that the vehicle isn't sturdy enough to meet American safety standards? Anyway, I liked the concept of electric cars and I'm willing to bet that the *real* reason why this Air Car won't succeed are the exact same reasons the electric didn't...diminished profits for certain corporations.

I take it you havent seen or read the Addendum to Volume 14 of Basic Pookanese?

:fly:
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LOL but I did look up that quote beside your avatar. "The Puca pissed on the berries" roughly translated from the Old Irish. I found that intriguing, from a foreign language point of view. I was even looking for something Pookanese to put beside my avatar to say in a friendly, nice way that I know Pooka and enjoy your insightful posts.:f-beer2:

http://www.noobsters.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25988 ;)

I missed that one. I guess I was on vacation at that time. Way cool stuff.

All glue construction be damned, I want one! My only concern would be the phrase "can hit 68 mph", which implies that that's the best it can do, when pushed and all the stars are in alignment. But I guess I'd settle for that to pay $2 every time I go to the gas station. (Ha! GAS station! Now it's a pun!)