| on 03-08-2007 21:08 |
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March
19, 2007 Many respected engineers have been trying for years to bring a
compressed air car to market, believing strongly that compressed air
can power a viable "zero pollution" car. Now the first commercial
compressed air car is on the verge of production and beginning to
attract a lot of attention, and with a recently signed partnership with
Tata, India’s
largest automotive manufacturer, the prospects of very cost-effective
mass production are now a distinct possibility. The MiniC.A.T
is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not
welded and a body of fibreglass.
The heart of the electronic and
communication system on the car is a computer offering an array of
information reports that extends well beyond the speed of the vehicle,
and is built to integrate with external systems and almost anything you
could dream of, starting with voice recognition, internet connectivity,
GSM telephone connectivity, a GPS guidance system, fleet management
systems, emergency systems, and of course every form of digital
entertainment. The engine is fascinating, as is and the revolutionary electrical system
that uses just one cable and so is the vehicle’s wireless control
system. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one
tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc
There are no keys – just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket.
Most importantly, it is incredibly
cost-efficient to run – according to the designers, it costs less than
one Euro per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is
about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or
10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities
where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top
speed of 68 mph.
Refilling the car will, once the market
develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer
compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately
1.5 Euros, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometres.
As a viable alternative, the car carries a
small compressor which can be connected to the mains (220V or 380V) and
refill the tank in 3-4 hours.
Due to the absence of combustion and,
consequently, of residues, changing the oil (1 litre of vegetable oil)
is necessary only every 50,000 Km.
Recommend this article... Last update: 03-08-2007 21:08
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