A pollution free air powered car is the brainchild of Guy Negre, whose company, Motor Development International or MDI, will start production in France this year. Although compressed air technology has been studied by companies such as Tata Motors, a working prototype which is a suitable fit for city applications is now being tested by MDI.

Engineers first had to overcome the challenge of developing a lightweight tank made from carbon composite similar to that used in the space shuttle to store 200 liters of compressed air at 4351 psi. Another cutting edge innovation is the 2, 4 or 6 cylinder engine design which will power the Air Car operating with compressed air which cooled to 15 degrees below zero as it expands to move the pistons.

What is most remarkable about the pollution free air car is its economy of operation; with a range of 300 miles its tank can be refilled for about $3.53 in about 3 minutes from a high pressure air station which is under development. The Air Car is also equipped with an onboard compressor which can be powered by plugging into a house outlet, taking about four hours to refill the vehicle. The air powered car also runs on a small gasoline engine for faster than city speeds.