Tata Motors closer to building air-powered cars

Air-powered cars could soon be a reality after Tata Motors said it has tested two cars that can run on compressed air, and will soon set up the manufacturing plants to build the cars.

In January 2007, Tata Motors and Motor Development International (Luxembourg) signed a licence agreement that enables Tata Motors to produce and sell compressed air cars using MDI technology in India.

Under the agreement, MDI transferred the technical concept to Tata Motors in the first phase while the second phase involved detailed development of the compressed air engine into specific vehicle and stationary applications.

Tata Motors said the first phase of technology development - proof of the technical concept in Tata Motors vehicles - has now been successfully completed with the compressed air engine concept having been demonstrated in two Tata Motors vehicles.

In the second phase of the development, the two companies are working together to complete detailed development of the technology and required technical processes to industrialise a market ready product application over the coming years, a Tata Motors release said.

While compressed air powers all kinds of tools, notably the pneumatic impact wrenches in auto body shops, this has not been tested in automobiles.