TATA's new car/engine to run on air.......??

**weeds** · 18th November 2011, 09:49 AM

What is this?
Will it be the next big thing?
Tata Motors of India thinks so..
What will the Oil Companies do to stop it?

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 2012

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 its simplicity, there is very little maintenance to be done on this car.

This Air Car almost sounds too good to be true. We'll see in August. 2012

**spudboy** · 18th November 2011, 10:03 AM

You don't get anything for nothing, so the fuel costs will just be shifted from petrol/diesel to electricity to run the compressors to recharge the tanks....

Lateral thinking though

Be easy to air up your tyres after some sand work.

**Matt97** · 18th November 2011, 10:09 AM

I've seen a forklift in a vege market run this way, good way to keep the fumes out of a enclosed area.

**VladTepes** · 18th November 2011, 11:39 AM

cool.

**JBM770** · 18th November 2011, 12:04 PM

Air motors usually dont have much torque. Think RX7 towing a box trailer.

Otherwise its a great idea.

If the electric companies are smart they will have a system that refills the home tank when the current draw drops to their minimum base load and offer customers a discounted rate, similar to off-peak water heating.

James

**ramblingboy42** · 18th November 2011, 12:43 PM

energy is neither created nor destroyed, it is just moved from one form to another. the footprint to produce an airpowered vehicle and keep it fuelled is very similar to a hybrid vehicle. the energy needed to perpetuate these vehicles is falsely hidden and in the end a large environmental impact is felt somewhere. everything has to be manufactured incorporating an energy usage . for air power a system involving powerful compressors to refuel would have to be developed. regardless of fuel used a vehicle will require a certain energy loss to move that vehicle from rest. whether it comes from petrol/diesel/gas/hydrogen/compressed air or nuclear fission, the same amount of energy must be expended to move that vehicle. the only question we as a civilisation need to ask is which form of energy we are happy using. in reality none is cheaper than the other eg coal in the ground is a chemical energy (I think) . with ignition it burns and develops heat and gasses which are converted into fuel to drive steam turbines which produce electrical energy to drive our heaters or airconditioners and on it goes into perpetuity. you can replace almost energy source with any other energy expenditure in my example. so in reality as long as you can pay for the result it doesnt matter what system you use to propel your motor vehicle

**bee utey** · 18th November 2011, 12:59 PM

Old idea, new materials. If it was light enough it would be more efficient than a hybrid, there being no IC engine. How would you like to sit in front of a reservoir at 4500 psi? Probably cheap to make, ideal in inner city environments.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_air_car"]Compressed air car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

**Blknight.aus** · 18th November 2011, 01:12 PM

the prototypes are already running about.... The range and speed is very optimistic.

one of the ideas that was toyed with was using renewable resources to power the on board compressor, I thought very seriously about one and a solar/wind station...

Originally Posted by bee utey

How would you like to sit in front of a reservoir at 4500 psi?

bout the same as I feel about strapping one to my back and then going for a swim.

**bee utey** · 18th November 2011, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

bout the same as I feel about strapping one to my back and then going for a swim.

Ah, very dangerous then...

**BMKal** · 18th November 2011, 04:33 PM

My Mrs reckons that with a diet of baked beanz and Coca Cola - we could save money on the compressor.

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