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French research and development firm MDI Enterprises SA focuses on creating sustainable, low-pollution energy sources. The group’s compressed air enginepromises to give some drivers an essentially zero-emission option for travel. The system can be refilled in only a few minutes at special stations, or drivers can plug in the engine to refill the system overnight using a built-in compressor. The engine targets pollution in urban areas, where shorter commutes and the feasibility of more compressor stations makes the cars more efficient and flexible. For rural areas MDI has developed a hybrid engine, which uses either traditional petroleum-based fuels or biofuels to heat the air in the system, forcing it to expand and increase pressure on the engine’s pistons. By supplementing the basic compressed air system, the latter type of engine would allow drivers to travel roughly 140 miles per gallon of fuel. MDI plans to explore a range of uses for these engine types, including personal cars, mass urban transport, and agricultural vehicles.
Earlier this year Indian auto manufacturer Tata Motors announced that it would develop the MDI engine on a large scale, making compressed air cars available to consumers in India by early 2009.
. Historian Shae Davidson's research interests include public policy and the relationship between culture and civil society. His publications range from articles on industrial history to absurdist poetry.
French research and development firm MDI Enterprises SA focuses on creating sustainable, low-pollution energy sources. The group’s compressed air enginepromises to give some drivers an essentially zero-emission option for travel. The system can be refilled in only a few minutes at special stations, or drivers can plug in the engine to refill the system overnight using a built-in compressor. The engine targets pollution in urban areas, where shorter commutes and the feasibility of more compressor stations makes the cars more efficient and flexible. For rural areas MDI has developed a hybrid engine, which uses either traditional petroleum-based fuels or biofuels to heat the air in the system, forcing it to expand and increase pressure on the engine’s pistons. By supplementing the basic compressed air system, the latter type of engine would allow drivers to travel roughly 140 miles per gallon of fuel. MDI plans to explore a range of uses for these engine types, including personal cars, mass urban transport, and agricultural vehicles.