No really – Air. Air for fuel. I’m not kidding. It may be compressed air, but it’s still just air. Of course you need to expend a bit of energy to compress the air but it’s still just friggin’ air.
The car is the MiniCAT, developed by French automakers Moteur Development International (MDI), which has been working on the air car for more than 10 years.
Compressed air pushes the engine’s pistons (as with many vehicles) while cold, clean exhaust air cools the components and can be used as internal air conditioning for passenger comfort. Yep, exhaust pumped into the car’s cabin. On purpose. You’ll breathe exhaust and like it.
The MiniCAT’s will also include a wireless control system, voice recognition, GPS guidance, internet connectivity and digital entertainment. A central computer sends signals to microprocessors connected to each device (which should make repairs pretty easy. Just unplug and click in a new microchip and go).
Refueling – er, un, re-airating? – stations is planned to be available at gas stations and require only a few minutes. A full tank will cost about 1 Euro (about US$1.35) and take the MiniCAT about 200-300 KM (about 125 – 185 miles). Just in case you can’t get to some compressed air, n internal compressor will can re- fill the vehicle in 3-4 hours.
Like most truly innovative vehicles, it’ll hit foreign markets before the US. Four prototypes are already hit the road – a car, taxi, pickup truck. The final product is expected to cost less than $11,000. Oh, and they plan to use vegetable oil as a lubricant.
Lightweight, environmentally friendly, smells like french fries (in this case, quite literally) and economical? Sign me up…
Read [Gizmag]
pls send me whole info about mini cat
thank you
This is a nice idea – but generation and storing compressed air is not very efficient.
Why not directly use electric energy? It is quieter, too…
congraulation!
One have achive great break through
after long time in resipocating enging
by just shifting topdead center from 0
to 70 deegre
it will be highy efficent engine of 21 cencury
you have done a amazing job
today on 14 june i saw your work on television and i am really
impresed
if it is all real
i have a offer for you
by your tecnology and my investment and
distribution channel
i offer you to produce and sell these car to indian market
I loved reading about your new car technology. I am a retired employee from General Motors and would love to learn more about your car. Unsure of the true envriomental/cost saving to achieve the air but nice to read about a company that may wake General Motors up. I would sure like to see this car in Canada. Please keep the price reasonable and it is sure to sell.
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wonderfull and we will not be dependedt on any one country or more as air is avialable every where.
good luck for world people
is india also involved in this project as i heard.
umesh rashmi
I would buy one now !!! Send them to the US.
for around town commutes it should be great.
Hi,
I am really happy reading that the car will be on roads in many countries by end of 2008.
I have also heard that Tata Motors, India, are planning to bring that car in India. Is it a reliable news?
Also, what about the spares and other support? Do you plan to set up work stations in all locations? Also how much electric power will it consume, if we use electricity to charge it?
Thanks again for bringing newer and better technology within common man's reach..!!
Hats off to you all…!!
OMG im not buying a gas car ever .. Im waiting for this
woohoo go air car
Just watched a segment on TV about this "new" vehicle. It is essentially a steam engine powered by air. Not as efficient but it will work. I believe the expansion rate and volume of steam vs. air will prove this out. I hope that they have taken a look at steam locomotive technology at the time of the death of steam. With steam or air efficient use of the available volume and pressure of potential energy is extremely important. On a steam locomotive there is a throttle that controls the flow of steam and speed. There also is a cut-off controlling the valves and the amount of steam allowed into the cylinder. This is an important control as by using only the amount of steam required to produce the needed power none is wasted and sent up the stack. There was no mention of the type of controls used on the air engine in the car but a cut-off could easily increase the range of the vehicle. Using computer control should make the system very efficient.
Another thing to consider is the wasted energy in the engines exhaust. On the Titanic the exhaust from the steam engines was used to power a turbine that turned the third, center propeller. On the car I could easily see where this exhaust could be sent to a turbine turning an alternator to provide all of the vehicles electrical needs.
It was not mentioned if the air tanks contained baffles to prevent the sudden and potentially dangerous loss of air should the tank become ruptured.
Pressure could also be maintained in the supply tank were a bladder or piston added with a nitrogen charge that would keep the releasing air supply under a constant pressure increasing run time. This type of technology has been used in well systems (by using air pressure) and a Bosch power brake system (nitrogen charge) and scores of other applications.
The power to rate ratio is better than most other vehicles. It's one of the better ideas I've heard of. Thanks guys.
even if this true, many government will stop them for their reasons. For me I would buy one if its really cheap
I am so amazed to hear about this new mini cat car which is so versatile . Me believe that its ll be a great gifted for the society .thanks for u all team workers for this achievements .
Will it be much efficient by using this compressed air instead of using direct electric charge ?
In wat criteria u preferred to use compressed air ? How its the boon to the customers ?
Even we disappointed in facing the challeng car "Nano",Ll this new minicat ll be much safety ?
please send me concept of this car
thank u