Guy Nègre of the United Kingdom has
invented a zero-pollution vehicle. It involves no combustion, and it
costs roughly $2 to run for 124 miles. It can reach a top speed of 68
mph and can be recharged in two minutes. And most surprisingly, it runs
on compressed air.
The
Air Car was developed by Moteur Development International (MDI) founded
in Luxembourg. The vehicle was developed over a 10-year time span and
the technology is protected by more than 30 international patents. It
stores 90 m3 of compressed air in fiber tanks. The expansion of air
pushes the pistons and creates movement. Atmospheric temperature is used
to re-heat the engine and increase road coverage. The expelled cold air
is then used for the air-conditioning system. Because there is no
combustion, an oil change is necessary only every 31,000 miles. The Air
Car can be refilled at a service station in two to three minutes, or it
can be connected to an electrical network (220 V or 380 V) for a
re-charging time of three to four hours.
Four different models of the Air Car have
been made so far: a car, taxi, pickup and van. The final selling price
for the vehicle will be approximately $11,000.
