Linda has been writing about the production of an air car as early as 2008. Earlier this week, I received an email from a friend (since Linda is still away) that just seems ideal for a post here at Forcedgreen. So… while our hover cars might not make it to the assembly line, see what I received regarding the upcoming (potential? real?) production of the Air Car out of India:

Tata Motors in India is ready to introduce 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.

Air Car Production Can’t Come Soon Enough

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 N. 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.

Air Car Costs

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

The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 85 (US $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 compressed air. 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 petrol 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 Kmph.

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 air car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometers.

Well, finally, CNN decided that the air car might generate some interest by
writing about it.  The comparison with the Prius is stirring up some questions
but the air car will beat it out.

The air car is still coming to America in 2010 and have produced a plan on how
production would be handled below. (more…)

OK kids, a few days ago I promised you some exciting news on the first air car I
blogged on, (Air Cars 05/01/2008), by the next day. My bad, my apologies, but I
wanted some confirmation on it. Got it – here’s the scoop.

The French company MDI (Moteur Development International), has licensed ZPM (Zero
Pollution Motors) of New Paltz, N.Y., to produce the air powered car for North (more…)

Back 0n May 2nd I wrote a blog called Air Car #2, about a guy (Angelo Di Pietro)
in Australia that invented an engine that runs on compressed air, the rotary
piston engine so light you can literally hold it in your hands. Well, I finally
found their site. Below is an excerpt. But, while I’ve got your attention, be
sure to tune in for tomorrow’s blog because there is going to be some exciting
news on the first air car I wrote about. (more…)

Inventor Angelo Dipletro in Melbourne, Australia is about to blow conventional power
vehicles right out of the water!

Right now, he has converted a form of a trolley (powered cart) that is being used at
Commerical Wholesale Markets. It takes 2 or 3 minutes to fill it with compressed air
and runs for about 2 hours. The remarkable thing about this engine is that it weighs
just 13 kgms (28 lbs). You can literally hold the engine in your hands. It is an
ingenious design that does not play off the piston powered engine of the air powered
car in France (see last blog), or the internal combustion engine. In this one, the
compressed air moves a single rotorary piston around to power the central drive shaft.

The beauty of the design is that the engine parts hardly touch. A layer of air
cushions the rotation of the piston. Which means, there is very little loss of energy
to friction, so very little lost of power.

In a normal car, much of the engine power output can be lost running the engine itself
and things like the transmission.

Angelo’s rotorary engine will be much more efficient because there is no transmission,
few moving parts, and the engine is incredibly light. So most of the power goes
straight to the wheels. It’s size to power ratio is outstanding.

Plans for an engine that weighs only 6 kgm (13 lbs) are in the works. Less that half
of the original.

The engine works in boats, cars, and is powerful enough to pull heavy loads. When it
is ready for the market, it will be easy to refill and no more dangerous fumes.

I really like this one! Uh OH! There goes those goose bumps again!