TATA Air Car Advances A Step Towards Reality - Brings Smiles To Indians

We Indians care for fuel economy more than anybody else in the entire world. While the skyrocketing fuel prices bring tears to our eyes, TATA Motors and Luxemburg based Motor Development International (MDI) have silently taken a step towards bringing the dream come true. The duo have entered the second phase of developing an air powered car! The car will derive all its power from compressed air, eliminating the need of using fossil fuels in vehicles. In 2007, Tata Motors and MDI had signed an agreement to grant Tata the rights to develop, produce and sell cars powered by MDI's compressed air engine. The first phase of the association involved transfer of technology and developing proof of concept. The second phase will involve developing the market ready vehicles.


MDI MiniFlowAIR, Not Tata Nano | Image Credit: MDI

Mechanical engineer, Guy Nègre had developed the compressed-air engines for MDI back in 1991. Since then, the company has floated a number of products to promote pollution-free engines. The biggest push to the project came from the TATA - MDI deal in 2007. Tata Motors claims that the proof of concept has been established with the technology being demonstrated in two Tata cars.

Those who want to discuss compressed-air engines with fellow mechanical/automobile engines may head over to CE's Mechanical & Automobile Engineering section. We'd also recommend reading our exclusive Small Talk With Er. Girish Wagh, the engineer behind Tata Nano. The future definitely looks very exciting! What say you?

Via: TATA | MDI