Compressed-air cars may be the first to be produced in Italy

All of us remember “The Adventures of Neznaika” Nosov since childhood and of course did not forget the original car that appeared in this work, which worked from carbonated water. For more than 6 years, the Swiss company MDI has been developing and trying to implement a car of a similar principle of action. Unfortunately, while cars on compressed air remain in single, prototypes, although the company tries to be active, sells licenses for the production of their vehicles to various manufacturers and startups. The most high-profile event of this series is the issuance of a license for an engine of its own design to a large Indian automaker TATA Motors. But even this could not affect the introduction of AIRPOD into mass production.





High hopes were pinned on a small startup ZeroPollution Motors, which planned to open production of such pneumatic cars in Hawaii last year. In the middle of last year, the company announced the need for an additional investment of at least $5 million and for this purpose put 50% of its shares up for sale with the promise to finally start production in late 2017 and early 2018. But as far as we know, the deal has not happened, so it is difficult to predict the emergence of AIR POD in the United States.

Also, the concept of a garbage truck developed for the French VEOLIA has not yet left the project stage.







The air engine designed by the Swiss, although environmentally friendly, is unfortunately not without drawbacks. So, as critics of this project note, the car due to the peculiarities of the pneumatic engine is not able to move in low temperatures. The company is currently working on this issue, but no positive results are known.

Since the appearance of the first AIRPOD, it has been a long time, its design has become familiar in the pages of many publications.







And of course, the concept required an update. AIRPOD 2 is currently being developed.







Finally, there is a shift in this long-running story.

The Italian company AirMobility SRL has almost built a mini-factory to produce these vehicles in Sardinia. As evidence of her seriousness, she demonstrates on her website built workshops and installed equipment.



If the plans of the Italians succeed, the first cars running on compressed air should appear in the middle of this year.

Three versions of AIRPOD are planned: passenger (photo above)
Cargo







And a pickup truck on her base.







According to the company, the technical characteristics of the machines are as follows: this is a two-seater car with a 10 hp engine; with a fiberglass body weighing 280 kg and classified as a quadricycle (L7e); the range at one compressed air filling station is 130 km, and a maximum speed of 80 km / h.



P.S. And remember, just changing our consumption – together we change the world!

Source: www.electromobile360.ru/2017/02/airpod.html