New “Air Car” Creates Buzz

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Affordable Car Promises an Unprecedented Cut in Fuel Costs

A new car could be the answer to our pump price despair. A company named Zero Pollution Motors says it plans to bring a car powered by air to the U.S. sometime in 2009 or 2010. Yes, I really mean air. If you’re awed by this concept and how it works, read on.

The six pistons in the Air Car’s engine will be pushed by compressed air rather than gasoline combustion, an idea developed by an FI race car engineer. Sounds ingenious, right? Well it gets better.

At $18k, the Air Car promises to get 106 miles-per-gallon utilizing an eight gallon fuel tank and a compressed air tank under the deck. Overall, experts believe this car can achieve approximately 800 miles per tank. Pretty incredible.

Early projections indicate that when the car is driven at speeds in excess of 35 mph, the fuel - gas, ethanol, or biofuel - will kick in. The amount of fuel used will depend upon the speed. Zero Pollution Motors says top speeds will reach approximately 90 mph.

So what does it look like? It’s not big by any means. The Air Car will, however, seat six passengers comfortably. Its four doors are incorporated into its sleek, aero dynamic body, which is made mostly of fiberglass and foam. Instead of the usual speed and RPM gauges in the dashboard, the Air Car will use an in-dash computer with displays for speed and engine revolutions. This dashboard computer will also be used for navigation, media playback, and communication.

While the Air Car sounds promising for U.S. consumers, it’s already generating some buzz overseas. The compressed air car will get a chance to prove itself next year when it competes for the Automotive X Prize. It has also drawn the interest of India’s largest automaker, announcing an agreement to further develop and refine Air Car technology.

When the Air Car hits U.S. showroom floors, I will be eager to see if it really lives up to its specifications. Do you think it will? Add your comments below.

Photo: m-c

* In Mississipi, contact Darryl Your Car Guy at Russ Mullin Ford Lincoln Mercury in Gulfport, MS Phone: (479)-283-7147