All across the world jaws are dropping as gas prices are raising new heights. The price of gas has sky rocketed to extremes and nowadays it feels like it costs us more money to go to the gas station to get gas then it does to walk to the pump with a gas can. Hybrid cars are the new craze but even they have to fill up some time or another. Although 50 miles to the gallon is nice, wouldn't it be great to never worry about the price of gas? What would happen if the world no longer needed fuel? Well, wait no longer, because the future is here right now, thanks to a company called MDI (Motor Development International)
MDI has created a car that runs strictly on air. Even though it sounds amazing, this is still nothing new under the sun. The technology for compressed air sounds like a brand new concept, but the truth of the matter is this technology has been used and created since 1896 by a man names Rudolf Diesel. In fact, compressed air technology powers almost every internal combustion system known to man.
In 1994, CAT (Compressed Air Technology) changed forever. Up until that time, to get better fuel efficiency engineers used turbo chargers and various types of equipment to force air and gas into the engine. Until this year when Guy Negre, a former Formula 1 race car designer, developed a way to make a car run solely on air that can be used to refill using any air compressor anywhere in minutes. In addition, if you find yourself without a compressor around, you can just plug into the wall and the built in compressor will refill your car in about 4 hours. In its current condition the car will run for about one hundred twenty four miles and its speed is maxed at sixty eight miles per hour (one hundred nine point four hundred thirty five kilometers)
MDI has not released very much information on their air car as of yet, but what we do know is that the engine uses nothing but air with a pneumatic combustion system that is too complex for words. This car features an electronic computer controlled transmission that constantly monitors the speed of the car and helps to keep the right amount of compression. There is an alternator to this car between the gearbox and the engine. This alternator helps to run different components of the car such as breaks, tank refills, and it helps with starting the vehicle. This car also features air tanks designed to take abuse so there is no need to worry about blowing up if something happens to them, which is hard to believe, seeing as how they contain four thousand psi (pound per square inch). These tanks are made of carbon fiber, so they will not just explode if damage occurs. Carbon fiber is made up of tiny fibers that have been reinforced with carbon bonded crystals too small for the human eye to see. These fibers are not as dense as steel, but combines a special resin which will become, in some cases, just as strong but not as heavy. The body of the air car formed out of injected foam and fiber will reduce weight and prevent rust. If damage occurs the fiber is easy to repair, and most importantly, carbon fiber is inexpensive to produce.
After researching and developing for fourteen years, they are about to begin production soon in India. MDI has collaborated with Tata Motors, India's number one car manufacturer. This car called the MiniCAT will be a huge success once launched, especially with these two engineering giants teamed together. There is no doubt that the Air Car will be a phenomenon that will change everything about the way we travel, and will leave the entire world wondering where they can get one. The MiniCAT will be sold approximately for the very low price of thirty eight hundred dollars (two thousand four hundred seventy EUR)
The air car is due to be on the showroom floors of Europe, Australia, and India near the end of 2008. As for the United States and other countries, the verdict is still out on when they will arrive, however a product such as this is well worth the wait. Chances are though, that this vehicle will be entering this market very soon. The automakers know that there is change needed, and are more than happy to make those changes.
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