The idea of a car that runs on air may seem to be far-fetched, but a Luxembourg company is working to bring such a vehicle to the market, and this air-powered, zero-pollution car would go a long way in terms of reducing carbon emissions and drivers' dependence on fossil fuels. However, as of early 2011, the air-powered car is not yet available to American consumers.
In 1991, Luxembourg-based Motor Development International introduced its innovative air car. An on-board air compressor pushes pressurized air into a reinforced tank, which then slowly releases, pushing pistons that propel the car to speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. To achieve faster speeds, a heating chamber heats the air, which can increase speed to nearly 100 miles per hour. The air compressor plugged into an electrical outlet for power; MDI claims to have also developed a dual-energy engine that allows the car to run on gasoline, diesel or alcohol for highway driving that requires a longer range and higher speed.
MDI’s models include four eco-friendly cars and one “urban transporter” called the MultiFlowAir, a multi-passenger vehicle designed for public transportation in which a car links with others to create a sort of “train on wheels.” The cars include: The three-seat AIRPod; the larger OneFlowAIR, a convertible that seats four; the MiniFlowAir, resembling a tiny minivan with a hatchback; and the CityFlowAIR, which features a substantial trunk and can seat up to six people.
Although MDI has made deals with companies in several different countries — including the U.S. — to manufacture the air car, as of early 2011, vehicles were still not available for purchase. In 2008, MDI announced that it had entered into an agreement with Tata Motors to produce cars in India, although as of 2011 this had yet to occur. According to a 2009 article in India’s “Daily News & Analysis," technological problems with respect to the vehicle’s range and cooling caused the delay.
MDI likewise entered into an agreement with U.S.-based Zero Pollution Motors in 2008. At that time, ZPM anticipated bringing vehicles to market by 2010, with an eventual goal of producing up to 10,000 cars per year. In 2009, the company pusehd back the projected launch to 2011. At that time, ZPM claimed the car’s cost would be between $23,000 and $28,000. The company has yet to manufacture any cars.
