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The Air Car Arrives

MDI

A French engineer has developed a line of pollution-free cars powered by compressed air. Sounds good, but what does it take to compress that air?

The Air Car Arrives

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

After 15 years of development, French engineer Guy Nègre is introducing a line of pollution-free vehicles powered not by bio-fuels or electricity but by air. The so-called clean air technology (CAT) mini cars could eventually be produced in India by the country's largest automaker, Tata Motors, which has signed an agreement with Nègre's company, MDI, to support further development.

Nègre's engine design uses compressed air to power a set of pistons, as a typical gas motor does. Refilling would ideally take place at gas stations adapted to deliver compressed air. Since the engine burns no fossil fuel, the car emits no pollution. The car's range is estimated between 125 and 190 miles, double that of the most advanced electric car, according to Nègre.

At 8.6 feet long, MiniCAT is well, mini. It seats just three passengers and has a trunk for luggage. Vehicle bodies are made from fiberglass or hemp fiber. These materials make the cars lighter than many motorcycles currently on the road--they weigh about 730 pounds. Prices would start at around $5,000.

The Verdict: Clean, renewable, and abundant, air seems like a grand slam homerun for cars. But the question remains: how much energy is necessary to create the compressed air the vehicle requires?

Stuart Schwartzapfel, a certified car freak, writes BusinessWeek.com's Concept of the Week column and contributes car reviews as well as stories for the Executive Life and Innovation & Design sections. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.

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