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| You are here: Home > Vehicle News & Reviews > News Articles > Tata Compressed Air Car To Take Time |
It was being speculated for a long time that Tata Motors would launch its compressed air car by the end of this year. The company ended all such speculations on Tuesday stating that the compressed air car engine technology is still in its nascent stage and a "launch in near future is ruled out".
“The technology for an automobile engine that runs on compressed air is still in the development stage and launch of cars fitted with such engines from the Tata Motors stable in the near future is ruled out,” Rajiv Dube, President, Passenger Cars.
Tata Motors had signed an agreement with France's MDI to apply the compressed air technology for engines in India. The project was still in its developmental stages when the deal was signed in early 2007.
The MDI Air Car is seemingly quite affordable and ranks fairly against the current standards. One of the most significant benefits of these cars are they are eco-friendly and do not pollute the environment. The body of the car shall be made from fibre and foam and has already passed the official crash tests. MDI And Tata Motors also plan to develop new and cost saving technologies for various applications for the Indian market that would meet severe environmental regulations.
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No word from Tata. The word from MDI is as always: production "next year". As MDI has done repeatedly, they got right up to the point where they had promised to start selling the minicat in late 2008, then it disappeared. Production date unknown. They announced yet another model, the AirPod. Production in 2010. Same story as almost every year since 2000.
Charlie (April 29, 2009)
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Although 3000psi sounds dangerous, the design of the carbon-fibre tank makes it impossible for it to explode in the normal sense. I am certainly far happier at the thought of sitting in a vehicle above a tank of high pressure compressed air instead of 50 litres of explosive fuel.
Yes it does take power to compress air, and there are losses involved, but there are also losses when charging an electric battery, and that will be much slower than filling a tank with compressed air, which should cost no more than 2GBP. Even if it cost 4GBP, that's still cheap for 150 miles of driving. Tim (February 11, 2009)
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Unfortunately, compressed air cars are too good to be true. There are still many problems with the technology, at least the MDI compressed air car has many problems that do not look like being resolved very soon. The pressure used in the air tanks is dangerous, and the range is very unimpressive. Those who claim to be on the verge of putting this technology into production are lying.
Sukhbir (January 28, 2009)
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you don't need that much energy to compress air... And it can be spread out to take as much as four hours at home... but only a few minutes at the air pump at a gas station. But just watch how much air will cost when these hit the road. I envision $10 to use the air compressor. At least we will be able to refuel at home. That's something that, if we had it now, no one would want to give it up.
Martyks (January 07, 2009)
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forgot to mention in the above message that the man's name was Theron Bupp. Knew his brother real well.
hazel Reynolds (January 04, 2009)
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Souunds like Jim is going to be right. accordingto the above statement, this car will not be released now. when 6 months ago it was all developed and going on sale in India within the year. NOW IT ISNT WORKING????? OIL COMPANIES?about30 years ago a man from Alma Michigan U.S.A. make a motor that ran on perpetular motion. This motor was set to be built in Clare MI. by a small factory that was there at that time. It never happened!! and no more was ever heard about it.Some say that General Motors bought him out,dont know. Just know that it was there then it wasen't
Hazel Reynolds (January 04, 2009)
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This is the best idea ever!! Its just what U.S.A.'s general Motors need, no gas, no pollution, Wonderful!! get GM to build it. it will solve their money problum and all. some people woun't like the looks of it but when they see how noce it is to drive around when they are paying $4.00 a gal. for gas they will come around, If its not priced to high. IF TTITS USED TO GET GROCERYS or ntake the kids to school, or what ever. Its Wonderful !! just what the world needs
Hazel Reynolds (January 03, 2009)
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This car will never be released. Oil companies will never allow this. That is the truth behind this car. You think they will allow this when it means the end of their oil empire??
Think about it. They have more power than you think. James (December 03, 2008)
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Do you really think this kind of cars can change anything ?
I do not see the interest of a low-efficient electric car (because you need a lot of electricity to compress air) when there are some more efficients electrics cars, and when your electricity come from fuel and coal. I think it would be more intelligent to focus on fuel efficiency than on this kind of petty tricks. Ryuujin (November 03, 2008)
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Well, its a shame that Tata Motors has ruled out a launch in the near future. I, along with may other Indians (Bangaloreans in particular) was hoping that our pollution levels would at last go on the decline. However, with the Tatas pushing the Nano which is petrol driven, I am not even sure I will be alive to see the MiniCAT.
Krish (October 18, 2008)
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It is a damn shame that the big three havent signed on to compressed air technology. who knows mabey TATA MOTORS an MDI can buy toyota an GM and start producingair powered cars this could possibley save 7 billion $ a year on imported oil. so please send your cars to america and open up a plant here aswell we need the jobs
don c (October 05, 2008)
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Since before year 2000, the air car has always been "production next year, or maybe the year after that".
Tata's announcement is in keeping with this tradition. The MDI press release about the agreement with Tata said that production cars would be available in 2008. As many times before, MDI was either overly optimistic, or purposely misleading in an attempt to gain more investment money. Charlie (September 20, 2008)
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tata motor is ruling the motor vehicle world for years.it's nano car is that operation/apprpach which will give a car in common people's hand.it is launching land rover & jaguar in india & planning to make air car.
GUMANA RAM JAT (August 28, 2008)
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to stay in the loop
