The TATA motors’ AIRPOD is a three-passenger
transportation module that uses compressed air instead of traditional
alternative fuels like compressed hydrogen or natural gas for a carbon-neutral,
zero-emissions ride. Developed by Motor Development International (MDI), its
special engine works by extracting air pressure from its 175 liter storage tank
on board, which refills itself either through an external pump or while driving
with the help of a complimentary electric motor.
The vehicle reaches a top speed of 43 mp/h (
70 km/h ), making it ideal for urban inner city travel in congested metropolis
areas. With a range of over two hundred kilometers, it only takes around two
minutes for a full tank, costing approximately one euro to fill.
It has low maintenance costs, it’s very
simple, very light. The major advantage is the reduced efficiency of the
compressed air engine, which is about half that of a conventional
petrol-powered engine.
The ease of converting air into an energy source using
simple compressors means charging stations can be placed anywhere, and they
require no provisioning, no trucks delivering gas, ethanol, or hydrogen and
they produce no emissions, just discharge of the air.
The AirPod, which incorporates many design for environment (DfE) principles like minimizing the use of toxic materials, useing renewable energy,
this energy carrier becomes zero pollution, even full cradle-to-cradle.
The big question is will the AirPod be able to become a successful replacement for other fossil fuel driven vehicles?
Sources:
- http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/13/3235980/tata-airpod-air-powered-car
- http://www.designboom.com/technology/tata-motors-airpod-air-powered-urban-commuter-vehicle/
- http://www.core77.com/blog/transportation/airpod_the_car_that_runs_on_air_23193.asp
- http://stoweboyd.com/post/29621528557/the-tata-airpod-is-a-city-car-running-on
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