Tata Air Car a runner?

Tata Motors of India is persisting with Its Air Car which runs on compressed air and is expected out in 2020.

It’s been touted by Tata since 2012 and now looks closer to reality, one of the earlier reported issues being around “fuel” efficiency.

The Air Car uses compressed air to drive it pistons and the latest version, the Mini Cat, is a light urban car expected to cost about US$8177 which uses a microprocessor to control electrical functions, reports say.

Clean air from the exhaust is cold enough to provide air conditioning.

It’s operated by an access card which the car can read in your pocket and it has about 300km range, a 105km/h top speed and can be refilled within three minutes with special air compressors at adapted service stations.

An on-board compressor also allows the Air Car to be topped up at home in about four hours.

Little maintenance is needed, with a litre of vegetable oil to be added every 50,000km.

Will it replace EVs? Who knows, but the Air Car has many sceptics.