Compressed Air Powers Latest Green Car

Nov 05 2008 by Sara Lacey

My kids have asked if cars could run on other stuff besides gas, like water, Jell-O or air. With the creation of a compressed-air engine, it looks as though their air idea might not be that outlandish.

Zero Pollution Motors has unveiled its AIRPod transporter, which runs on compressed air. The compressed-air engine was built by Motor Development International, led by Guy Negre, a former Formula One racecar engineer. The engine’s pistons are pushed up and down by compressed air. A little fuel is needed to operate a heater for the air going into the engine, but that fuel can be propane, ethanol, diesel or biodiesel. It can reach a top speed of 43 mph; it’s expected to achieve 106 mpg. Oh, and there aren’t any harmful tailpipe emissions. In fact, ZPM claims that the air going out of the AIRPod is cleaner than the air that went in because air particles are filtered out of it.

The AIRPod has three models: the AIRPod, which seats three adults and one child (we don’t know about ISOFIX or Latch connectors yet); the AIRPod Cargo, which also seats three adults and a child and has a cargo area of 35.3 cubic feet; and the smallest, the AIRPod Baby, with only two front seats.

The AIRPod’s compressed-air tank can be refilled with air by plugging into a home electrical socket. The air tank is automatically refilled when the AIRPod is driven at high speeds.

Even more fascinating is the plan to build these vehicles. There won’t be a traditional factory-type strategy. Instead, investment clubs will invest in franchise-style factories to produce the cars. That’s fascinating!

It’s a whole new automotive world out there, people. What could be next?

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