New Compressed Air Vehicles Step into the Spotlight
The AIRPod, with a range of 180 to 220 km, is just one of an emerging class of compressed air vehicles on the horizon.
A new but odd-looking vehicle contains technology that could over time lead to more zero-emission vehicles that don't rely on electricity, according to the Auto Channel. The vehicle runs on compressed air, and several other compressed air vehicles are under development.
The Moteur Development International (MDI) AIRPod is a tiny two-seater, with three wheels and a total weight of just 220 kg. The vehicle has a range of 180-220 km, a top speed of about 40 miles per hour and can be fully recharged in just 90 seconds.
MDI has also developed another prototype, the OneFlowAir, a small two-seater open-topped four-wheeler that combines the compressed air system with a conventional motor, creating an air-fuel hybrid system that has an overall range of up to 900 km.
Larger city cars are under development that will take the concept further. A six-seater mini-MPV called CityFlowAir could represent a more practical use of the technology, with low manufacturing cost, powerplant simplicity, and lack of an infrastructure requirement other than compressed air.
The technology is protected by 50 international patents, and MDI is hoping that an automaker will adopt the technology in the near future.
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