Tata Motors is ready to introduce MiniCAT, the car which runs on compressed air.
Tata Motors has been taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then the world’s cheapest car, and now Tata is set to introduce the car that runs on air—compressed air the MiniCAT.
With gasoline prices projected to hit $5.00 a gallon in 2011, this car is great news.
The Air Car, dubbed the “MiniCAT” could cost around $8 thousand in India and would have a range of close to 200 miles between refuels.
The cost of a refill would be only two dollars.
The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued, not welded, and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air. Micro-controllers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators, etc.
There are no keys—just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than a tenth to operate compared to a car running on gasoline. Its mileage is about double that of even the most advanced electric car, a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where 80% of motorists drive less than 40 miles per day. The MiniCAT has a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately two dollars, the car will be ready to go another 200 miles.
As a viable fueling alternative, the MiniCAT carries a small compressor which can be connected to a 220V outlet to refill the tank in 3-4 hours.
Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 quart of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 30 thousand miles.
Since the temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, it can be used to air condition the MiniCAT with no loss of power or mileage.
With gasoline prices projected to hit $5.00 a gallon in 2011, this car is great news.
The Air Car, dubbed the “MiniCAT” could cost around $8 thousand in India and would have a range of close to 200 miles between refuels.
The cost of a refill would be only two dollars.
The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued, not welded, and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air. Micro-controllers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators, etc.
There are no keys—just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than a tenth to operate compared to a car running on gasoline. Its mileage is about double that of even the most advanced electric car, a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where 80% of motorists drive less than 40 miles per day. The MiniCAT has a top speed of 65 miles per hour.
Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately two dollars, the car will be ready to go another 200 miles.
Due to the absence of combustion and, consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 quart of vegetable oil) is necessary only every 30 thousand miles.
Since the temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, it can be used to air condition the MiniCAT with no loss of power or mileage.
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