A Car That Runs on Compressed Air?

Normally I don’t take much note of cars that supposedly run on seemingly outlandish fuels. With oil at $100 per barrel, there is plenty of talk about running vehicles on anything but expensive fossil fuels. I’ve got to say that this concept may have some serious potential. As the article below from driving.ca notes, a car that runs on compressed air is going to see production later this year. This concept has been in the research and development phase for 14 years by MDI Enterprises of France. MDI received a considerable credibility boost when Indian auto giant Tata Motors invested $30 million into the project and agreed to produce the car in India. If you haven’t heard of Tata motors, they are India’s largest car and truck maker and will be bringing cars to our shores sooner than later. Last week they introduced the $2500 car which has the potential to make a huge impact on the global auto market. As the article states, the compressed air car “depends on pressurized air to move the pistons, which in turn help to compress the air again in a reservoir. The engine also has an electric motor, which needs to be periodically recharged, to top up the air pressure”. It also has a fuel engine option to extend the car’s range when not in reach of a special power plug or service station. While the prototype is not exactly the prettiest car you’ll ever see, this technology may make some serious noise in the near future.

Driving.ca – Compressed Air Vehicle Taking Off