THE FRENCH DESIGNED AIR COMPRESSION CAR "COULD SELL FOR ABOUT 5000 DOLLARS"
Air-powered cars to be manufactured in India after developer signs licensing agreement
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One of the great success stories of recent technological history is carbon fiber. Light, stronger than steel and corrosion proof, it’s used in everything from airplanes to fishing rods to sailboat masts. Without carbon fiber composites Guy Negre wouldn’t have his air powered cars. It’s the super strong carbon fiber pressure tanks that make the cars possible. Soon cars running on compressed air will go into production — in India. MDI Industries, of Carros, France, which develops the air powered cars and engine technology, has signed a licensing agreement with Tata Motors that allows that company exclusive rights to manufacture and market an MDI car and its technology in the world’s second most populous nation. The small, fiberglass composite 770 pound (350 kg) cars could sell for about $5000.
(Tata, by the way, is the same company that is offering its People’s Car, the Tatanano which shocked the world recently with its less than $2500 starting price. Concern was raised among environmentalists that the potential of millions more cars on the planet wasn’t helpful.)
Negre, who invented the air-power technology, says that Tata will be the only large car company allowed to build cars and use the technology for other purposes. He wants large numbers of investors to build smaller plants scattered around the globe. The plants would build cars and sell them directly to consumers. Up to 80 percent of parts could be locally-sourced, creating jobs. Emissions from shipping parts thousands of miles would be eliminated. Cutting out the middlemen — direct factory to consumer sales —would cut costs as well. With hundreds of factories worldwide, he’s looking at one percent of global market share of automobiles - about 680,000 cars a year.
Under the hood of an MDI car is more than just a horizonally-opposed air powered piston engine. The Compressed Air Technology (CAT) includes two types of engines: Mono and Dual-Energy. Mono engines run on compressed air only in urban environments. Dual-Energy engines have a hydrocarbon fueled burner which heats air in the cylinders to increase pressure on the pistons. The addition of a combustible fuel means more power and extended range. The addition of an external heat source acting on the cylinders makes the engine design a close cousin of a Stirling engine.
The car model that Tata Motors will be selling is a version of the OneCAT. MDI’s website gives that model a top speed range of 55 - 68 miles per hour and a full tank range of 62 to nearly 500 miles. The significant range increase is due to the addition of heat source. Fuel for the burner can be bio-based or petroleum. On long distance runs the Dual-Energy CAT should achieve 120 miles per gallon. Around town on air-only fuel economy will be higher.
From a specialized, powerful air pumping station, pressure tanks can be refilled in about 3 minutes. At home, using the on-board compressor, filling takes about 4 hours. One can imagine solar-powered air filling stations for true full cycle zero emission transportation.
The engine is made of modules comprised of two opposing cylinders. Modules can be bolted together to make 4 or 6 cylinder engines, for instance. Current engines underdevelopment have power outputs ranging from 4 to 75 horsepower. Further development is planned for engines of 200 horsepower and higher to use in buses and trucks. The company says dozens of modules could be bolted together for even greater output for stationary applications.
The wide range of engine sizes possible with CAT makes for a wide range of possible applications - cars, trucks, buses, electric power generators, tow tractors, forklift trucks, agricultural tractors, outboard motors even engines for light aircraft.
Tata under its agreement is already thinking about power generators for remote use. In power generator mode the engine runs on fuel - anything available - to generate power as needed, or compress air. In emergency situations stored compressed air could run a CAT generator.
There’s more than the company talks about as well. One can also imagine using the technology as part of an energy storage system for solar or wind power. Excess energy from either source could be stored as compressed air by way of an electrically-driven compressor.
There’s another added value in the technology as well. The engines, being somewhat similar to conventional internal combustion engines, share similar time-tested production techniques - casting and machining for example - and are able to capture the wonders of volume production to keep costs down.
The technology seems like a winner. But if it weren’t for carbon fiber it wouldn’t be possible.
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CLICK HERE FOR THE AIR COMPRESSION "MINICAT" FRENCH DESIGNED CAR TO BE PRODUCED IN INDIA
A car that runs on air could soon be a reality for Indians.
Tata Motors has signed an agreement with Moteur Development International of France to develop a car that runs on compressed air, thus making it very economical to run and be almost totally pollution free.
Although there is no official word on when the car will be commercially manufactured for India, reports say that it will be sooner than later.
The car -- MiniCAT -- could cost around Rs 350,000 in India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels. The cost of a refill would be about Rs 90.
An overview of the air car
The technology that MDI vehicles use is not really new. Compressed air technology allows for engines that are both non-polluting and economical.
After ten years of research and development, MDI is prepared to introduce its clean vehicles onto the market. Unlike electric or hydrogen powered vehicles, MDI vehicles are not expensive and do not have a limited driving range. MDI cars are affordable and have a performance rate that stands up to current standards. To sum it up, they are non-expensive cars that do not pollute and are easy to get around cities in.
Two technologies have been developed to meet different needs:
- Single energy compressed air engines.
- Dual energy compressed air plus fuel engines.
The single energy engines will be available in both MiniCATs and CityCATs. These engines have been conceived for city use, where the maximum speed is 50 km/h and where MDI believes polluting will soon be prohibited.
The duel energy engine, on the other hand, has been conceived as much for the city as the open road and will be available in all MDI vehicles. The engines will work exclusively with compressed air while it is running under 50 km/h in urban areas. But when the car is used outside urban areas at speeds over 50 km/h, the engines will switch to fuel mode. The engine will be able to use gasoline, gas oil, bio diesel, gas, liquidized gas, ecological fuel, alcohol, etc.
Both engines will be available with 2, 4 and 6 cylinders, When the air tanks are empty the driver will be able to switch to fuel mode, thanks to the car's on board computer.
How does it work?
MDI explains that 90m3 of compressed air is stored in fibre tanks. The engine is powered by compressed air, stored in a carbon-fiber tank at 30 MPa (4500 psi). The tank is made of carbon-fiber in order to reduce its weight. The engine has injection similar to normal engines, but uses special crankshafts and pistons, which remain at top dead center for about 70 degrees of the crankshaft's cycle; this allows more power to be developed in the engine.
The expansion of this air pushes the pistons and creates movement. The atmospheric temperature is used to re-heat the engine and increase the road coverage. The air conditioning system makes use of the expelled cold air. Due to the absence of combustion and the fact there is no pollution, the oil change is only necessary every 50 000 km
How does it work?
MDI explains that 90m3 of compressed air is stored in fibre tanks. The engine is powered by compressed air, stored in a carbon-fiber tank at 30 MPa (4500 psi). The tank is made of carbon-fiber in order to reduce its weight. The engine has injection similar to normal engines, but uses special crankshafts and pistons, which remain at top dead center for about 70 degrees of the crankshaft's cycle; this allows more power to be developed in the engine.
The expansion of this air pushes the pistons and creates movement. The atmospheric temperature is used to re-heat the engine and increase the road coverage. The air conditioning system makes use of the expelled cold air. Due to the absence of combustion and the fact there is no pollution, the oil change is only necessary every 50 000 km.
The car
- The end product is a light weigh vehicle that can reach speeds up to 220 kmph.
- MDI's vehicle's have fibreglass bodies which makes them light, silent urban car. The car's body is tubular, light weight, and is held together using aerospace technology.
- The vehicles do not have normal speed gauges. Instead, they will have a small computer screen that shows the speed and engine revolutions. The system allows for infinite possibilities such as GSM telephone systems, GPS satellite tracking systems, programs for delivery people, emergency systems, internet connections, voice recognitions, map presentation, traffic information, etc.
- The seatbelt system is different from what we know. One part of the belt is anchored to the floor of the car, like traditional cars. The other part of the belt, in stead of being attached to the side of the car, is also anchored to the floor of the vehicle. This helps to secure the bodies of the driver and passengers in the case of a collision.
- The vehicle's electric system is also revolutionary. MDI has bought a patent that is bound to reduce the important of electrical systems in all cars. The trick consists in using a small radio signal. The system makes the car 20 kilos lighter and considerably quieter.
- There are no keys - just an access card that can be read by the car from your pocket.
- In the single energy mode MDI cars consume around Rs 45 every 100 km.
- When there is no combustion, there is no pollution. The vehicle's driving range is close to twice that of the most advanced electric cars (from 200 to 300 km or 8 hours of circulation).
- The recharging of the car will be done at gas stations, once the market is developed. To fill the tanks it will take about to 2 to 3 minutes at a price of Rs 90. After refilling the car will be ready to driver 200 kms.
- The car also has a small compressor that can be connected to an electrical network (220V or 380V) and will recharged the tanks completely in 3 or 4 hours.
- Because the engine does not burn any fuel the car's oil (a litre of vegetable) only needs to be changed every 50,000 km.
- The temperature of the clean air expulsed form the exhaust pipe is between 0 and 15 degrees below zero and can be subsequently channelled and used for air conditioning in the interior of the car.
MiniCAT
The smallest and most innovative: three seats, minimal dimensions with the boot of a saloon: a great challenge for such a small car which runs on compressed air. The MiniCAT is the city car of the future.
Specifications:
- Airbag, air conditioning, ABS, 3 seats, 1.5 m3.
- Dimensions: 2.65m, 1.62m, 1.64m
- Weight: 750 kg
- Maximum speed: 110 kmh
- Mileage: 200 - 300 km
- Maximum load: 270 Kg
- Recharging time: 4 hours (Mains connector)
- Recarge: 3 minutes (Air station)
CityCAT
A spacious car with seats which can face different directions. The vehicle�s design is based on the needs of a typical family.
Characteristics:
- Airbag, air conditioning, 6 seats.
- Dimensions: 3.84m, 1.72m, 1.75m
- Weight: 750 kg
- Maximum speed: 110 kmh
- Mileage: 200 - 300 km
- Max load: 500 Kg
- Recharge time: 4 hours (Mains connector)
- Recharge time: 3 minutes (Air station)
The MDI Group
The MDI Group is headed by Guy Negre, a former Formula One engineer. MDI is a small, family-controlled company, founded in Luxembourg but now located at Carros, near Nice (southern France) where Guy and Cyril Negre, together with their technical team, have developed a new engine technology with the purpose of economising energy and respect severe ecological requirements -- at competitive costs.
“Air Car” Will Hit The Streets in India
From Business Week
Many respected engineers have been trying for years to bring a compressed air car to market, believing strongly that compressed air can power a viable “zero pollution” car.
Now the first commercial compressed air car is on the verge of production and beginning to attract a lot of attention, and with a recently signed partnership with Tata, India’s largest automotive manufacturer, the prospects of very cost-effective mass production are now a distinct possibility.
The MiniC.A.T is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fibreglass. The heart of the electronic and communication system on the car is a computer offering an array of information reports that extends well beyond the speed of the vehicle, and is built to integrate with external systems and almost anything you could dream of, starting with voice recognition, internet connectivity, GSM telephone connectivity, a GPS guidance system, fleet management systems, emergency systems, and of course every form of digital entertainment.
The engine is fascinating, as is and the revolutionary electrical system that uses just one cable and so is the vehicle’s wireless control system.
Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators and etc.
There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket.
Most importantly, it is incredibly cost-efficient to run – according to the designers, it costs less than one Euro per 100Km (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 the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 68 mph.
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 1.5 Euros, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometres.
As a viable alternative, the car carries a small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and refill the tank in 3-4 hours.
Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 50,000 Km.
The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0 - 15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power.
How does it work?
90m3 of compressed air is stored in fibre tanks. The expansion of this air pushes the pistons and creates movement. The atmospheric temperature is used to re-heat the engine and increase the road coverage. The air conditioning system makes use of the expelled cold air. Due to the absence of combustion and the fact there is no pollution, the oil change is only necessary every 31.000 miles.
At the moment, four models have been made: a car, a taxi (5 passengers), a Pick-Up truck and a van. The final selling price will be approximately 5.500 pounds.
The Company
“Moteur Development International” (MDI) is a company founded in Luxembourg, based in the south of France and with its Commercial Office in Barcelona. MDI has researched and developed the Air Car over 10 years and the technology is protected by more than 30 International patents and MDI is actively seeking licensees, with according to the company, 50 factories in Europe, America and Asia signed already.
The Factory
It is predicted that the factory will produce 3.000 cars each year, with 70 staff working only one 8-hour shift a day. If there were 3 shifts some 9.000 cars could be produced a year.
The Tata Agreement
Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of US$ 5.5 billion in 2005-06. With over 4 million Tata vehicles on Indian roads, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fifth largest medium and heavy truck manufacturer and the second largest heavy bus manufacturer.
Tata has signed an agreement with MDI for application in India of MDI’s engine technology, and believes the engine is viable – it’s press statement described it as “efficient, cost-effective, scalable, and capable of other applications such as power generation”.
The agreement between Tata Motors and MDI envisages Tata’s supporting further development and refinement
July 13, 2008
The Air Car could revolutionize transportation - an electric car without an electric motor
Driving around without consuming gasoline or polluting the environment will be reality in the very near future. That means saving money and conserving the environment at the same time. The solution to traffic pollution, dependence on fossil fuels, global warming and soaring oil prices is the electric car. However, this car stores electrical energy not in expensive batteries but by using compressed air technology. And there’s no electric motor, but a motor powered by compressed air.
The former French Formula One engineer Guy Negre has developed the motor and a line of prototypes of air-powered cars for the last one and a half decades. The concept is simple. The heart of the air car is a four cylinder piston engine similar to conventional engines. The difference is that the engine invented by Guy Negre uses compressed air to push the pistons in the engine up and down whereas combustion engines use tiny explosions of fuel to push the pistons. The compressed air which is taken from a tank expands inside the piston and releases the energy used to compress it.
As the air-powered car has no tailpipe emissions, it’s perfect for use in bustling cities around the world. It can travel at 68 mph (110 km/h) and has a driving range of 93 miles (150 kilometers). Refilling it is easy. The car can be refilled from a compressed air service station (or a gas station with custom air compressor units) in just a few minutes or it can be plugged in at home using the on-board compressor which takes a few hours. The electricity needed to fill up the tank will only cost about $2. The founder of Motor Development International (MDI) and inventor of the air-powered car Guy Negre said: “It’s unthinkable to create an ecological car that is not also economical because people are not usually prepared to spend money to be environmentally friendly.”
MDI had to find solutions to numerous problems: First, the storage tanks had to be made strong enough to rule out that the tank could rupture in crashes. The air tanks are made of carbon fiber to prevent explosions. The pressure inside the air tanks is 300 bars. Second, the design of the car had to be light and compact at the same time. To achieve this, many components are made of aluminum and consequently, the air engine weighs less than half of a conventional combustion engine. This is possible as the engine remains much cooler than the combustion engine and temperatures will be well below the melting temperature of aluminum. With everything being kept at a light weight, the air cars get the best mileage possible. Air filters keep contaminants out of the mechanism and therefore, the air that comes out of the tailpipe is cleaner than outside air. This means driving an air-powered car is rather air purification than air pollution.
Although the car itself produces zero emissions, the generation of the electricity needed to compress the air results in CO2 emissions depending on the source of energy. But even if coal-fired power plants deliver the electricity, the air-powered car accounts for much less emissions per mile than any gasoline-driven car. And the air car’s energy efficiency is far better, too. Besides, when the car stops at traffic lights, the engine is stopped so that no energy is lost.
And in fact, the air car could make a breakthrough. India’s Tata Motors signed a deal with MDI to develop the technology and to sell the car in India. Besides, MDI has sold more than 30 licenses to companies planning to distribute the car in several countries. Zero Pollution Motors will start selling MDI’s air cars in the United States. In August this year, more than 6,000 zero-emissions Air Cars will go on sale in India. The first models of MDI’s Air Cars (OneCAT, CityCAT) could go on sale in the U.S. in 2009 or 2010 as two-, four- or six-seaters. The 75-hp equivalent six-seat version of the CityCAT could cost $17,800. The car will have a dual-energy engine which uses a small amount of gasoline or ethanol to heat the air, extend the range of the car by powering a compressor to an incredible 1610 kilometers at a speed of 155 kilometers per hour. One tank of air and about 30 liters of fuel would be enough to cover distances between 1288km and 1600km. Thus, the Compressed Air Vehicles will have an outstanding fuel economy of 106 miles a gallon which makes them extremely competitive with e.g. hybrid-cars. The Toyota Prius has a fuel economy of 45/48 miles a gallon. Air Cars will follow the same safety regulations as conventional cars and they will undergo safety tests before they are to go on sale in the U.S.
But MDI’s air-powered vehicles are not the only ones. The Australian Angelo Di Pietro has also developed a motor that is powered by compressed air but works differently. To my mind, Mr. Di Pietro’s invention is even more fascinating than the French version as Mr. Di Pietro managed to reduce friction, size and weight to a minimum. The concept is unique and brilliant. In his 6 cylinder expansion motor, compressed air moves a single rotary piston around to power the control drive shaft instead of pushing pistons up and down. A cylindrical rotary piston rolls without any fricton inside the cylindrical stator. The space between the stator and the rotor is divided into 6 expansion chambers by pivoting dividers. (EngineAir: http://www.engineair.com.au/index.htm) Next to the motor’s outstanding efficiency, it is remarkably small and weighs only 13 kilograms. As the motor has only few parts to move, maintenance costs are low and production is cheap: It could go on sale for €3,500. Moreover, it’s simple to refill. Filling in pressed air for two or three minutes is enough for two hours of driving. And the motor has many applications: It can be used to power boats, cars and small vehicles such as a market burden carrier.
Air-powered cars could become a real alternative to gasoline-driven cars and perhaps to conventional electric cars. Especially emerging countries like India and China could prove to be the perfect markets for such cars, but also industrialized countries could start mass-production of air cars in the not-too-distant future. The big advantage of these cars is that the power is drawn off the electical grid which is very cost-efficient and widespread.
And even if the first models of MDI rather look like toy cars than feasible vehicles, this technology has huge potential! Remember the first Japanese cars that hit the U.S. market in the late 1950s and compare them with e.g. the latest Lexus…
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/ecogeek/66/air-car-ready-for-mass-production.html
http://www.carcentral.com.au/200807112097/technical/air-powered-cars-promise-clean-and-efficient-driving.html
http://www.lavalnews.ca/articles/TLN1614/cover161403.html
Check out these posts for information on electric cars:
All major auto-manufacturers are designing their own electric cars
The electric car on the fast track
California’s Hydrogen Highway
The electric car revolution is about to happen
Electric vehicles are competitive with gasoline-diven vehicles
The electric car - the last sign of hope for troubled U.S. car makers?
BMW will make the electric Mini
Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
CLICK HERE FOR THE AIRCAR WEBSITE
7 Comments
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