[SAUNDERSAN]

http://johnharding.com/2011/01/26/mi...r-powered-car/

India’s largest automaker, Tata Motors, using a development by Luxembourg-based MDI, is producing the world’s first commercial vehicle powered solely by compressed air.



An ex-Formula One engineer, Guy Negre, is the brains behind Tata’s air car, which will be the world’s cleanest car with zero emissions. It’s range will be 185 miles with a top speed of 68 mph. The vehicle will be able to recover up to 13% of the power used via a pneumatic brake power recovery system.


Tata is aiming to release the Mini CAT Air Car in August 2012 with prices starting at around $8,200, which is less than had been estimated previously. Sources report that US version of the car would run exclusively on compressed air at low speeds. Above 35 mph, a small gasoline engine would kick in to provide the car with enough power to hold its own on US highways. For slow stop and go traffic, however, the MiniCat would be running exclusively on air.

Tata Motors has been taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then the world’s cheapest car, and now Tata is set to introduce the car that runs on air—compressed air the MiniCAT.

The cost of a refill would be only two dollars.

The vehicle itself is a six-seat mini van using two 340-litre carbon fibre gas tanks which are filled with air to 4350psi.

[CamVideoQl]

Top speed of 68.... other than that it sounds great

[Dyslermergerb]

I wonder how much pressure the tank is going to be under and what it does in a crash test. Oh yeah, what an ugly POS.

[CamVideoQl]

I wonder how much pressure the tank is going to be under and what it does in a crash test. Oh yeah, what an ugly POS.

Looks a lot like the Nissan cube(can't get a pic posted) which I think is the ugliest car on the road these days...

[SAUNDERSAN]

I wonder how much pressure the tank is going to be under and what it does in a crash test. Oh yeah, what an ugly POS.

4350psi. Body styling is a few mouse clicks from whatever sells.

This technology has been long overdue.

[TeksPaisimi]

[SAUNDERSAN]

As per their website:

"This technology is only available, and can only be sold in our predesignated body styles.

If you want a sports edition, or something with a more sleek performance look, you will have to remain on fossil fuels, choose electric technology, or wait for the civilian version of nuclear fuel cell technology to become available."