KEY POINTS:
A car that runs on air? What seemed like a pipe dream may soon become reality, as Frenchman Guy Negre hopes versions of his compressed air car will be produced in India this year by Tata Motors.
It follows a 15-year quest for backers for his invention.
Negre
believes the time is right for his design with oil prices at record highs and pressure on carmakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.
"It is clear that with oil at US$100 ($130) a barrel this will force people to change their use of fuel and pollute less," Negre said at his firm Motor Development International (MDI), near Nice in the south of France.
"My car is zero pollution in town and almost no pollution on the highways," he added, saying the vehicle could travel 100km at a cost of €1 ($1.88) in fuel.
The former Formula One motor racing engineer's invention depends on pressurised air to move the pistons, which in turn help to compress the air again in a reservoir.
The engine also has an electric motor, which needs to be periodically recharged, to top up the air pressure.
The bottles of compressed air - similar to those used by divers - can be filled up at service stations in several minutes.
The latest versions of the cars - MDI made an entire series of prototypes of engines and vehicles - also include a fuel engine option to extend the car's range when not in reach of a special power plug or service station.
Tata, India's largest carmaker with revenue of US$7.2 billion in its last financial year, concluded a deal last year investing €20 million.
Pre-production in India is set for this year, Negre said.
The vehicle, protected by some 50 patents, will cost €3500 to €4000. Using composite materials, it will weigh no more than 330kg and its maximum speed is 241km/h.
"The lighter the vehicle, the less it consumes and the less it pollutes and the cheaper it is. It's simple," Negre said.
He aimed to set up mini factories in regions where the car is used.
"No transport, no parts suppliers. Everything will be made at the place of sale in production units that can make one car per half hour," said Negre.
"That is more profitable, more ecological than the big factories of the large carmakers."
Negre is not the only inventor working on compressed air engines, but he has the backing of Tata, whose global ambitions were last week underscored when it was named preferred buyer of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford
- Reuters
