With fuel prices touching nearly $150 per barrel, it was time we heard of some breakthrough that would try to think out of the box and get away from the limited range electric car. India’s largest automaker Tata Motors is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle, the car that runs on air, compressed air to be specific. The Air Car uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. The Air Car, called the MiniCAT could cost around $8177 US in India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels. The cost of a refill would be about $2 US.

When I looked it over I thought that this would be a brilliant move forward in alternative energy vehicles.
I knew that this could work because of my previous work history in underground mining. A lot of the equipment from jackleg drills, mucking machines to massive diamond drills are used underground and powered by compressed air. These are not manby pamby weak-kneed toys but industrial powerhouses.

Years ago as an underground miner I remember clearing hundreds of tons of rock and ore by using a mucking machine to load underground trains. These were run on compressed air being pumped via airlines from the surface. The compressed air acted as the propellant used to activate the machines pistons. This worked similarly to a gas engine that would use an internal explosion to force the pistons. The great advantage of compressed in the limited underground environment was that instead of producing a noxious exhaust like internal combustion engines emit, the air motors exhausts cold air that could in turn be breathed safely by the miners. No carbon emissions. I have first hand knowledge that this technology works.

I remember a story overheard as young on how an inventor had produced the prototype for the 100-mile to the gallon carburetor. I thought this was a great advance in automotive technology. I asked when the inventor was going to release this product. What I was told is that the oil/automotive companies had quashed the amazing product by paying millions to silence the inventor. It would have cut to deeply into their profits. This is one of many Urban Legends that I would hear throughout my adult life.
What I’m afraid of now is that the automotive giants or the oil companies could actually kill this innovative product. Think about it. A really competitive product that doesn’t use any gas or electricity. I can see why the oil companies would be terrified but with the Big Three screaming for bailouts why are they not at the forefront of this technology. Why did it need a brave investor from India to back the research for this product?
If were serious about ending our dependence on a single major fuel source ( OIL) or depending on weak and limited range replacements ( electric cars) this is the first real alternative I have come across. I will be keeping a very close eye on this technology and will cross my fingers that it will succeed.

Air Car! Runs on compressed air!

Air Car by Guy Negre on CNN

Serge

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