AUTOMOTIVE
Zero Pollution compressed Air Car set for U.S. launch in 2010
 
By Loz Blain



15:03 February 28, 2008 PST

The Zero-Pollution MDI Air Car, invented in France and licensed by Tata Motors in India, is coming to American shores. Zero Pollution Motors have announced they will begin taking reservations for the first U.S. deliveries in the next couple of months, but it will be 2010 before Americans get their first taste of the ingenious compressed-air motor, which runs to 35mph entirely on air, or uses a trickle of petrol to heat and compress more air to reach higher speeds up to 90mph. It'll cost next to nothing to run (how do 30,000km service intervals sound?), have a range of up to 1000 miles, and retail for well under US$20,000.

We've written before about the promising potential of compressed air as the next energy storage medium for road cars, and it seems the concept is starting to gather some serious momentum. After signing a mass-production agreement with India's largest auto manufacturer, Zero Pollution has announced the beginning of a marketing push into the U.S.A.

Pre-orders for the air car will be taken in early 2008 on the Zero Pollution website, and initial U.S. deliveries for a 6-seater, 4-door, 75 hp, dual-energy MDI Air Car are anticipated for 2010.

The air car has also been one of the first entries in the multi-million dollar Automotive XPrize competition , which aims to reward innovators and inspire a new generation of super-efficient, 100mph+ vehicles to help free mankind from its oil addiction.

Check out our original look at the air car  for more information on the amazing multifunction compressed air engine, as well as more information about the air car's development.

ECOGIZMO
French auto runs on compressed air technology 

By Gizmag Team

22:00 November 1, 2004 PST



French engineers have designed a low consumption and low pollution engine for urban motoring that runs on compressed air technology. The CATS (Compressed Air Technology System) "air car" from Motor Development International is a significant step for zero-emission transport, delivering a compressed air-driven vehicle that is safe, quiet, has a top speed of 110 km/h and a range of 200 km. Costing next to nothing to run, the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) range - which includes a pick-up truck and van - is set for release in early 2005.

Cyril Ngre is the head of Research and Development at Moteur Developement International (MDI) cars, where the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) prototype has been in production since 1994. The two-stroke engine is powered by compressed air stored in tanks at about 150 times the pressure of tyres on a car. The expansion of the compressed air drives the pistons to create movement, replacing the burning of fossil fuel in a conventional engine. In an air-refilling station (currently unavailable as service stations have not been fitted yet) it is estimated to take between three and four minutes to re-fuel. At home, with a 220V plug, it takes three and a half hours.

Ngre estimates a full tank of air will cost around 1.50 euros to fill and that the extra reward is knowing that you are pumping nothing harmful into the atmosphere. The hidden environmental cost with the CATS is that electricity must still be generated and the means of that production may still employ fossil fuels that discharge pollutants. Still, the savings to the pocket and environment appear well worth investigating. Four models are available for the commercial market - the MiniCAT car at approximately 6 860 euros, or the CitiCATs, including a taxi (with room for up to 5 passengers), a Pick-Up truck and a van, all retailing for approximately 9,460 euros plus taxes.

Air powered engine

This engine uses an innovative system to control the movement of the 2nd generation pistons and one single crankshaft. The pistons work in two stages: one motor stage and one intermediate stage of compression/expansion. The engine has 4 two-stage pistons, i.e. 8 compression and/or expansion chambers. They have two functions: to compress ambient air and refill the storage tanks; and to make successive expansions (reheating air with ambient thermal energy) thereby approaching isothermic expansion. Its steering-wheel is equipped with a 5kW electric moto-alternator. This motor is simultaneously:

the motor to compress air the starting motor the alternator for recharging the battery an electric moderator/brake a temporary power supply (e.g. for parking)

No clutch is necessary. The engine is idle when the car is stationary and the vehicle is started by the magnetic plate, which re-engages the compressed air. Parking manoeuvres are powered by the electric motor. The CATs 34 P04 engine is equipped with patented variable-volume butts and a dynamic variable-volume volumetric reducer.

The dual energy system

The Series 34 CATs engines can be equipped with and run on dual energies - fossil fuels and compressed air - and incorporate a reheating mechanism (a continuous combustion system, easily controlled to minimise pollution) between the storage tank and the engine. This mechanism allows the engine to run exclusively on fossil fuel, which permits compatible autonomy on the road. While the car is running on fossil fuel, the compressor refills the compressed air tanks. The control system maintains a zero-pollution emission in the city at speeds up to 60 km/h. The MDI con-rod system allows the piston to be held at Top Dead Centre for 70 of the cycle.This way, enough time is given to create the pressure in the cylinder. The torque is also better so the force exerted on the crankshaft is less substantial than in a classic system.

Gear changes are automatic, powered by an electronic system developed by MDI. A computer which controls the speed of the car is effectively continuously changing gears . The latest of many previous versions, this gearbox achieves the objective of seamless changes and mimimal energy consumption.

Safety Concerns

Air powered vehicles have a long history of use in Europe but were discontinued for safety and efficiency reasons. The CATS air cars have undergone stringent safety testing for modern conditions and requirements and appear to have conquered the concerns of air compression engines.

The CATS air tanks store 90m3 of air at 300 bars of pressure (four tanks have a capacity of 90 litres, and they store 90m3 of air at a pressure of 300 bars), just like tanks already used to carry liquefied gases on some urban buses. That means that the tanks are prepared and certified to carry an explosive product: methane gas.

In the case of an accident with air tank breakage, there would be no explosion or shattering because the tanks are not metallic but made of glass fibre. The tanks would crack longitudinally, and the air would escape, causing a strong buzzing sound with no dangerous factor. It is clear that if this technology has been tested and prepared to carry an inflammable and explosive gas, it can also be used to carry air.

In order to avoid the so-called 'rocket effect', this means to avoid the air escaping through one of the tank's extremities causing a pressure leak that could move the car, MDI made a small but important change in the design. Where the valve on the buses' tanks are placed on one of the extremities, MDI has placed the valve in the middle of the tank reducing the 'rocket effect' to a minimum.

Availability

The CATS air cars are at the final approval stage and advance orders are being taken with a release date towards the end of 2004/early 2005.

I know Foster and 93z are GM/Chevy guys (at least, anti-Ford guys).. But I'm with Zombie on this 'debate'.

What put me over the edge you ask? Ford was the ONE major motor company that DIDN'T get/ask for a bail out. Also, GM's owned by the gov'ment. No thanks, even if it breaks down a bit more often, I'll take a Ford over a GM ANY day. ... lol Says the guy that drives a '98 Chevy Cavalier. lol

"Formo" wrote:

But what Formo said is huge. I strongly think we shouldn't have bailed out anyone, especially the banks. We rewarded these assholes for failure and they took bonus money out of OUR tax money.
.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

Calls on Congress to pass the federal Right to Repair Act

New data reveals that consumers save an estimated $26 billion a year or $360 per family for vehicle service and repair at neighborhood independent repair shops compared to more costly new car dealerships. This demonstrates why Congress needs to swiftly pass the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (HR 2057). This legislation will prevent car manufacturers from denying access to repair information, computer codes, tools and software needed by car owners and their neighborhood repair shops to repair late model vehicles.

Historically, car owners have had the ability to repair their vehicles themselves or take them to the service facility of their choice. The car companies now seek to force consumers to return to the dealership for service and repair and are lobbying heavily against the Right to Repair Act. It is appalling that some manufacturers can take federal bailout money and then turn around and oppose a bill that would protect every American motorist from a vehicle repair monopoly.

The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (HR 2057) currently has the support of 53 members of Congress. Every consumer who owns or operates a vehicle in the U.S. stands to suffer economically if this bill is not passed. Please send a letter urging your members of Congress to support the Right to Repair Act by visiting www.righttorepair.org.

Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Bethesda, MD

Well said Pack. :thumbright:

Non and Wade - I was actually more talking about the plants themselves. Here's a link if you want to know more:
http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php/grhccommittees/290?task=view 

Green roofs are one of the best thigns for the environment for a bunch of reasons. You may have heard of the urban warming effect (generally called the "heat island effect"). It significantly helps reduce that. Plus, it lowers energy consumption as they're simply around 25% more energy efficient than regular roofs. They also reduce rainwater runoff as well as filter pollutants out of rainwater. Plus, urban areas are known to be horrible for wildlife. Green roofs help counteract that. I don't want to get into details but it's worth researching those benefits alone as I at least find them interesting.

From an economic perspective, like I already mentioned, they'll cut down on energy costs significantly.

That's the main thing about that one plant but there are a lot more environmental things they do. So once again, hats off to Ford. I wish other companies would have this much environmental responsibility for the products they create.

And yes, buying a used car beats all that but I for one love to buy a new car then run it until it dies. That's just me though.

"zombieslayer" wrote: