Tata Motors plans to launch the OneCat, a car running on compressed air.
The car is expected to be a five-seater with a glass fiber body, which would weigh just 350 kg and cost just about Rs 2 lakh.
The project is backed for an undisclosed sum by Tata, which says it may also use the technology for power generation.
A BBC report has pointed out that Tata's backing makes the idea much more marketable and that the Indian company will be putting finishing touches
to the engine.
French engineer Negre is planning to sell the car in India, the report said. He hopes that the first buyers of the compressed air car will be people who care about the environment and would sell it for an economical price.
Tata would be the only big firm Negre will license to sell the car and sales will be limited to India.
The car will be driven by compressed air stored in carbon-fiber tanks that can be filled in just three minutes. The tanks will be built into the chassis.
The car can also be plugged into the mains for four hours and an on-board compressor will do the job.For long journeys, the compressed air driving the pistons can be boosted by a fuel burner which heats the air so it expands and increases the pressure on the pistons. The burner will use all kinds of liquid fuel.
The vehicle contains air tanks that can be filled in four hours by plugging the car into a standard electrical plug. MDI also plans to design a gas station compressor, which would fill the tanks in three minutes.
Source :
1. Wikipidia
2. http://www.carblogindia.com/tata-mini-cat-air-car/
3.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/5732/tata-air-car-powered-entirely-by-compressed-air-blow-me-down
The car is expected to be a five-seater with a glass fiber body, which would weigh just 350 kg and cost just about Rs 2 lakh.
The project is backed for an undisclosed sum by Tata, which says it may also use the technology for power generation.
A BBC report has pointed out that Tata's backing makes the idea much more marketable and that the Indian company will be putting finishing touches
to the engine.
French engineer Negre is planning to sell the car in India, the report said. He hopes that the first buyers of the compressed air car will be people who care about the environment and would sell it for an economical price.
Tata would be the only big firm Negre will license to sell the car and sales will be limited to India.
The car will be driven by compressed air stored in carbon-fiber tanks that can be filled in just three minutes. The tanks will be built into the chassis.
The car can also be plugged into the mains for four hours and an on-board compressor will do the job.For long journeys, the compressed air driving the pistons can be boosted by a fuel burner which heats the air so it expands and increases the pressure on the pistons. The burner will use all kinds of liquid fuel.
(All the figures are from MDI and are not independently verified) OneCAT (Compressed Air Technology) was advertised as an upcoming compressed air car in 2008.India's Tata Motors was said to be collaborating with Air engine developer Guy Nègre of MDI to produce the vehicle.
The vehicle contains air tanks that can be filled in four hours by plugging the car into a standard electrical plug. MDI also plans to design a gas station compressor, which would fill the tanks in three minutes.
The OneCAT is a five seat vehicle with a 200 litre trunk. There is no reliable data on range and top speed for this prototype available.
As of August 2009 there was no mentioning of the prototype or planned production of the TATA OneCAT on the TATA or MDI homepages. In December 2009 Tata's vice president of engineering systems confirmed that the limited range and low engine temperatures were causing difficulties. Meanwhile all links, articles and archives relative to MDI have disappeared from Tata's website.
Source :
1. Wikipidia
2. http://www.carblogindia.com/tata-mini-cat-air-car/
3.
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/5732/tata-air-car-powered-entirely-by-compressed-air-blow-me-down
Hi! This is superb like Nano. Small Car Like Nano and air compressed driven cars are for small family like to drive safer, short distance, slow speed (max. 0f 40-50). Nano was framed for small family, who rides with parent, two or three children in one motorbike which is not safe for the riding family and for the public on road. But some foolish I can say GREEDY people expect more from small cars, which has smaller engines. People should understand the capacity, and purpose of small cars and whether it suits their expectations or requirements before gping for it.
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