Air-powered cars are motorized by compressed air motors. These cars can be exclusively powered by air, or they can be combined with other types of fuels such as electricity, gasoline, or ethanol. The idea of the compressed air motors is to use the kinetic energy that stores compressed air in a tank under high pressure, around 30 megapascals (4351.13 pounds per square inch).

These motors are considered among the greenest that can be used in personal transportation methods and are considered very eco-friendly cars by both European and Indian standards. The refueling of the vehicle can be done at home or with a normal air compressor at service stations.

The same compressed air can also be used in air conditioning for heating or cooling the passengers. Adding to the environmental and economical benefits of the air-powered cars, these cars would help in the reduction and elimination of chemical and thermal hazards by gasoline and battery acids.

The major Indian automobile company, Tata Motors, has announced that they will begin selling these cars, dubbed the Tata Mini CAT car, in the world market during 2012. According to the designers, the car has keyless operating and an access card to open the car doors and to start driving. It seats six, and the maximum speed of the car is about 105 kilometers per hour (65.24 miles per hour).

The starting price of the Mini CAT car begins at about $12,700 USD in the Indian market and will be available around the globe. Tata is using a technology from the Luxembourgian Motor Development International company (MDI) to produce this type of car to be sold commercially around the world.

This car was manufactured after failing to market the first version of the car due to difficulties of limited range and low engine temperatures. Tata called the first version Tata OneCAT, which was produced between 2008 and 2009. Following that, all OneCat information has been removed from Tata and MDI’s websites.

Tata also has other green cars, such as the Indica Vista EV and the Tata Nano EV, which are fully electric vehicles. Indica Vista EV is available in Indian, Norwegian, British, and Spanish markets with a price around 30,000 Euros ($38,464.94 USD). MDI also produces a lot of air-powered vehicles, including AIRPod, OneFlowAIR, MiniFlowAIR, CityFlowAIR, and MultiFlowAIR.

All MDI products range from 1,000 euros to 9,000 euros ($1,284.13 to $11,545.25 USD), and the air refueling would cost around 2 euros per 300 kilometers. The spread of environmentally friendly cars, instead of petrol-fueled cars, will help sustain life on our planet and save natural resources.

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About the author

Obai Radwan
I'm Palestinian citizen , living in Lisbon, Portugal I love traveling ,photographing ,and swimming! I've Bachelor's Degree in Mass communications from Cairo University follow me on Twitter @ubai1982

7 Comments for Air-Powered Cars Become a Reality in 2012

Duaned

much has been said about the rollout of the air powered car over the past several year. Is this really the year? Are the technical problems solved? I understand the higher pressure required to fill the tanks can only be provided by special equipment – not available to the average commuter. Are we really ready?

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Charlie

Duaned, you ask the appropriate questions!
But who can answer you? I hope that the author of this article is going to supply us his sources (Tata Motors?). He is writting: “the same compressed air can also be used in air conditioning for heating or cooling the passengers”. This is not possible: cooling, yes; but heating, no! Who was able to say to him it?

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Bella Rossi

I hope for the best:)

What i do know is there in NO reason we should still be using gas
i wish the scientists would stand up to the oil companies for the rest of us.

We are actually having a discussion about this…..

http://www.mforums.org/showthread.php?tid=101

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Ian garrison

I agree with the gas comment this is an org tring to do something about it.

http://www.millenniumparty.org

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Claudius

“Tata Motors, has announced that they will begin selling these cars…”‘
Truly? References? A fake again?
Perhaps 2013, or 2014, but probably never…

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Colton b

I loved it

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Ryan Clearwater

When is this going to become a reality in the rest of the world?

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