Tata Motors may launch `Air car’ by 2010-11
The Air Car doesn't require traditional fuel options like
petrol, diesel, or gas and is driven primarily by compressed air. The company
has also developed an alternative means to power the car using a combination of
air and petrol, diesel or ethanol, just like a hybrid.
"Tata Motors has not finalised any timeframe for deployment of the
technology of engines powered by compressed air. Tata Motors is licensed to
deploy the technology only in
MDI has developed several models of the Air Car designed to accommodate two to
six passengers. A typical three-seater car, which had been unveiled earlier, is
about 2.65 metre in length (smaller than Nano, which is 3.1 metre) and 1.62
metre wide (wider than Nano).
The price of the car will be unveiled at the launch, but, according to the
company's website, its price may range from Rs 2.33 lakh to Rs 8.69 lakh.
Consumers can use an air compressing device at home or take it to a filling
station to fill compressed air. The car is emission-free. A Mini Flow Air (as
labelled by MDI) can travel up to 180 km under urban conditions on mono energy,
which is, only compressed air, and up to 1,500 km on dual energy on the highway
consuming, just 1.8 litres of petrol.
In addition, the top speed on the mono energy car will be 110 km an hour. On
dual energy, it can do 130 km an hour, according to the company.
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