Fwd: Fw: Air Powered Car

[BJDESIGNER at aol.com]

Subject: Air  Powered Car

An interesting concept- how about  using glue Vs welding? 
 





    

    
 
 



 
This is a great example of thinking  outside the box!  If this "flys" the 
implications  are tremendous and from a consumer's  standpoint they are all 
good!  I am now  wondering how our elected officials are going to tax  air.   
  



(Invest in  compressor  manufacturers)
Tata  Motors is ready to introduce the Air Car - Will it be  the next big 
thing?   Tata Motors is  taking giant strides and making history for  itself. 
 First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then  the world's cheapest car, and now 
it is also set to  introduce the car that runs on compressed  air.
 






With  spiraling fuel prices 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 Nigre 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 
2011. 

The Air  Car, called the "MiniCAT" could cost around Rupees.  3,475,225 
($8,177.00) in India and would have a range  of around 300 km between  refuels.

The cost of a refill would  be about Rupees. 85 ($2.00)

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 a compressed 
air  engine.  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 
100 Km (about a tenth that of a patrol  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 80% of motorists 
drive at less  than 60 Km.  The car has a top speed of 105  Kph.

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 electric grid (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 liter of vegetable oil) is necessary only  every 50,000 Km).

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.