What future for the air-powered car?

Share

Comments (1)

On the market for 10 years or so, the air-powered car is struggling to find a space among other clean car technologies. Will the arrival of the new AIRPod model from the company Motor Development International (MDI) change the future of this kind of vehicle? An initiative that should be welcomed at a time when technological innovations are dramatically, and permanently, changing the face of the automotive sector.

The latest developments in the history of the air-powered car … whereas its future on the market did appear less than certain, the launch of a new model from the company MDI has now opened up new opportunities in France and worldwide.

Let’s come back to the history of Motor Development International (MDI), founded in 1991 by Luxemburger Guy Nègre. For more than 10 years, the company has been trying to make a name for itself with an engine for urban vehicles that is capable of functioning on compressed air.

Air-powered cars are non- polluting and run thanks to an on-board compressor connected to a socket in order to produce air.  The compressed air is then sent into a cylinder in order to propel a piston linked to a crankshaft.

Such a system also permits the use of bi-energy sources. As with hybrid models, the cars can increase their range with the use of petrol.

A potential market ?

While the Indian constructor Tata Motors invested in the project a few months ago, MDI has just unveiled its new AIRPod  model.

The AIRPod resembles a tricycle and is just 2 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and 1.7 metres high. It has no driving wheel and it’s by using a joystick that the driver, sat alone at the front, is able to drive the vehicle.

According to MDI, the car can reach either 45 km/h (28 mph) or 70 km/h (44 mph), depending on the model, and has a 220-km (137-mile) range, supplied by a tank containing 200 litres of compressed air.

After having been tested by Air France, for use in its airports, AIRPod is now in contention for Autolib', the Parisian self-service car rental project.

Although the originality of its appearance blows new life into urban vehicle design, the automotive market remains unenthusiastic about the arrival of the air-powered vehicle, which faces, notably, the electric car in competition.

While a partnership had been announced between MDI and Mexico City, the town ultimately chose electric models for its taxi fleet.

With an estimated price of €6,000 (£5,100) and running costs of 50 euro cents per 100 km (approximately 42 pence per 62 miles), MDI’s forthcoming partnerships should, however, provide a sequel to the story of the air-powered car.