TREE huggers and those who lament the use or abuse of non-renewable resources, especially in the generation of energy and power, should take a long hard look at the proposed technology that is being touted by Motor Development Inc. founder Guy Negre and his manufacturer of choice, Tata Motors.
Yes, the same Tata Motors that has dared to bring forth the $2,500 car — while purchasing high-end Jaguar and Land Rover from a sputtering Ford Motor Company. The car invented by Mr. Negre is powered by compressed air. A full load of compressed air that can presumably be available in many or most gas stations takes only a few minutes to load and will take the prototype car a full 125 miles (200 km).
Now one has to take a long hard look at the Indian market and realize just how practical they are about their cars. The Maruti car company manufactures a local version of the Suzuki Alto which has a minuscule 800cc engine. This car may seat four or a maximum of five people anywhere else, but the intrepid Indians manage to shoehorn seven people in there! Imagine what they will do to a car designed for seven, as the first proposed model of the air car will do since it is supposed to perform yeoman’s chores as an everyday taxi.
The first model is to be named the CityCat and will cost about $12,500 — roughly the cost of a Corolla in most countries. It will run at a maximum speed of 68 mph (almost 110 kph) — just enough to stay within most speed limits, but putting a damper on the speed demons out there — which should get one from point A to point B in good time.
Now, this is probably the best idea for a practical car there is today. It will not spew any dangerous fumes or probably create a large carbon footprint. And air is available anywhere at a pittance compared to either the stratosphere-riding cost of gasoline and other alternative fuels. Until a viable solar powered car comes along, this will be the technology to beat.
Read about this amazing technology in the following threads.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_car
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/mar2007/bw20070319_949435.htm?campaign_id=rss_topDiscussed
August 30th, 2008 at 2:47 am
We my need to accept that the key to our energy future may not come from the government or big energy companies, but rather from small research and development companies and individual inventors working on water cars, air powered cars, fuel cells and on board hydrogen fuel generators.
August 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
nice to know some of you guys appreciate the wonders of technology, particularly, with air cars. but guy negre/tata motors is not alone in that project. here in the philippines, we have able geniuses, the likes of daniel dingel (watercar) and liv quitain (air car). liv quitain’s air car is different as it does not require refilling. your car can have unlimited air supply as its compressor is direct-driven.
August 17th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Great.Catched you by Google Search.
Ashish Jain,
http://www.hmreviews.com
August 17th, 2008 at 8:39 am
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August 17th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Great information! Thanks for writing this. It is an honor to participate in the discussion.