Air car ready for production

The Air Car. The use of compressed air for storing energy is a method that is not only efficient and clean, but also economical. In 1973 CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage) installed their first compressed air energy storage plant in Germany, making use of natural underground caves for compressed air storage and taking advantage of the surplus energy produced by the generating plants. Later on similar plants were installed in the United States (Alabama and Ohio). Compressed air is an energy vector that can be used, in a viable way, to transport both people and goods. One possible alternative is the air-powered car. There are at least two ongoing projects that are developing a new type of car that will run on compressed air. In this article, you will learn about the technology behind two types of compressed-air cars being developed and how they may replace your gas guzzler by the end of the decade!

Compressed air power car concept worldwide.

PHOTO CAPTION: MDI MiniCat compressed air-powered car is said to go 125-170 miles on 25kWh of electric power and at freeway speeds. Source : http://www.evworld.com

Is it really possible to run a four passenger car or a minivan or a pickup on nothing but compressed air? Developed by Moteur Developpement International, the Compressed Air Engine might just be best thing to have happened to the motor engine in years. And now, one of the first commercial applications for the zero-emission engine, the Air Car, will be starting production relatively soon, thanks to India’s TATA Motors. There’s fuel, there’s renewable fuel, and then there’s uber-renewable fuel- and a car that runs off of air is sure to fall into the third category. Here’s hoping we see these on streets all over the world sooner than later! The French Connection, a compressed air powered MDI MiniCat