The Worlds First Car Powered By Compressed Air.
by Green Feat
One fascinating project I have been keeping tabs on since the late 1990's is a company founded in France but now based in Spain by the name of MDI. Founded by a former race car technician named Guy Negre who's impetus for his invention came from his background in racing.
MDI has created a high performance Auto mobile that runs completely on compressed air technology. In comparison to traditional gas powered engines, the compressed air based technology is infinitely superior in regards to energy used and thermodynamics.
An overview of the AirCar:
The applied science that MDI autos run on exists and is not new, in fact it had been available for a number years, but just not commercialized. Compressed air technology allows automotive powerplants to reduce their environmental footprint and save money for it's driver. After ten years of research and development, it appears that these eco-autos are ready for the marketplace.
Unlike electric, hybrid or hydrogen powered vehicles, the AirCar isn't high-priced and doesn't have a limited range as many detractors have claimed. MDI vehicles are quite affordable and feature a level of efficiency that equates favorably with currently available eco-cars. To sum up, the MD AirCars are non-expensive and feature a minimal environmental footprint, and are uncomplicated to get around cities in.
MDI projects to manufacture 2 variations -- a 3 seater compact named the Minicat which will retail for approximately $9,850 and a 6 person sedan with a cost of $16,000 known as Citycat. The AirCar is secure, reliable doesn't emit pollutants, doesn't run on a fuel source that can blow up, plus it's non-polluting and in a price range that makes sense.
The operations of the AirCar, include an electrical pump that forces air into a tank. The air in turn move pistons that take the vehicle up to 70 mph. The vehicle can travel 50 miles at the greatest speed on a full tank, and much farther if travelling at more reasonable levels. They're currently developing models that have even greater distance capabilities, and also hybrid versions that meld additional energy options to allow for for limitless range. They're somewhat costlier but attain higher levels of speed and greater range by running on a combination of compressed air and regular gasoline or bio-fuels derived from organic matter. MDI says the air-only versions satisfy the demands of almost all urban drivers, that drive shorter distances each day.
The single energy powerplants will be available in both Minicats and Citycats. These engines have been developed for urban center usage, where the upper limit speed is 50 km/h and where MDI thinks polluting will before long be forbidden. It is already conceivable to see cases of this in various places, such as London, where if you decide to go into the city center with gas powered automobiles, you must pay a fee.
All MDI automobiles will have the option of being equipped with a hybrid engine, which has been added so the vehicle can be driven longer distances as well as city driving. When the car is taken out of the city at speeds over 50km/h the engine will switch over to the fuel burning source, but when in a city driving below 50, it will work exclusively on air. The dual source engine will be able to use gasoline, diesel, ethanol or alcohol as it's combustion source.
Both engines will be equipped with 2, 4 and 6 cylinders, once the air tanks are emptied the driver will be able to alternate between fuel modes, as a result of the car's on board computer.
The Air-only models have Zero emissions. According to MDI the only exhaust is hot air coming from the tail pipe.
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