Tata Motors successfully tests cars that run on compressed air technology

Tata Motors have confirmed that their project of producing a compressed air-powered vehicle is back on track and in fact the project has completed its first phase.

The news of Tata Motors working on a car with compressed air engine with the help of MDI (Motor Development International) technology first surfaced in early 2007. MDI is a renowned French company specialized in designing compressed air car prototypes marketed under the title "the Air car". The car was named OneCat. But since then most of the information about the project or its status died out.

Tata Motors had to face many difficulties due to its limited range and technical issues with the powertrain. But the project now seems to be a feasible concept as Tata Motors and the air engine developer Guy Nègre of MDI have made breakthroughs in its application.

The project mainly consists of two phases. The first phase involves proofing of the technical concept in Tata Motors vehicles. The second phase involves both the companies working together in developing the technology and manufacturing the car.

"The first phase of this programme-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," the company stated in a recent release. The company did not mention the cars on which the technology had been tried out.

Working of an Air Engine concept

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Tata Motors have shown a lot of interest in the recent times to produce environmental friendly cars. We saw the Tata Manza hybrid prototype at the Auto Expo recently. Tata has shown interest in electric vehicles, they product the Ace EV in Britain and displayed EV prototypes of the Vista and Nano.