Do you dread heading to the gas station? Are you like me and ride the needle on the gas gauge, waaaaay past the empty line? If so then you're in for some good news, gasoline may soon become a thing of the past. How so you ask? Well thanks to our friends at Tata Motors and Luxembourg based MDI, filling up your car may cost as little as $2 thanks to their MiniCAT air powered car.
Yes you read that right, air powered car! I had seen concepts online, and a few working models in Europe on youtube, however this is the first news I had heard of this becoming a production model. When released, this will be the undisputed cleanest vehicle on the planet, using compressed air to power its internal motor the MiniCAT expels zero emissions.
If that's not enough to get your motor running, then maybe the cost will. With SMART cars (you know those small golf cart looking cars) you can expect to shell out upwards of $30,000. However with the Tata MiniCAT a consumer can expect a starting price a in and around the $8,200 mark. That's right $8,200... less than the cost of a motorcycle without having to pay for gas!
The car itself seats 6 people, has two 340-litre carbon fibre 'gas tanks' which are filled with air to 4350psi. Has a range of 185 miles with a top speed of 68 mph. This mileage is nearly double that of the most advanced electric cars and is a fraction of the price. Currently recharging the tanks takes 3-4 hours however once the market develops adapted gas stations with compressed air could recharge the tanks within two to three minutes at a estimated cost of $2.
There is a lot more to learn about this vehicle and a lot more potential for it as well. While I wish I had this car years ago I will eagerly await for this vehicle to reach market. So far Tata Motors is shooting for a release date of August 2012.
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