New Delhi: The much hyped 'Air Car' project that Tata Motors undertook along with French engineering firm MDI two years back appears to be facing some technological challenges. This project aims to develop a car that can run purely on compressed air, without using any other source of fuel. The compressed air expands inside the vehicle and the energy so released powers the vehicle.Tata Motors' vice-president (engineering systems) S Ravishankar told DNA Money the project is facing difficulties in terms of vehicle range and cooling.
"Air is not a fuel, it is just an energy carrier. So a tank full of air does not have the same energy as a tank full of CNG. Any vehicle using only compressed air to run would face problems of range."
Does that mean the 'Air Car' project off?
Ravishankar declined to answer but went on to say that excessively low engine temperature is another problem in a vehicle using only compressed gas as fuel.
The agreement between Tata Motors and MDI was signed in 2007 and envisaged Tata's supporting further development and refinement of the technology, its application and licensing for India.
Besides the 'Air Car', Tata Motors is also believed to be working on hybrid buses for city transport, an electric sub-one tonne cargo carrier Ace and the electric Indica. It is already selling CNG and LPG versions of the Indica and Indigo in India under a 'zero km fitment scheme'. Also, the country's largest commercial vehicle maker is involved in the hithane project, which aims to spike CNG with an ideal blend of pure hydrogen to reduce tailpipe emissions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Environment Friendly Vehicles Conference, Tata Motors' managing director (India operation) Prakash M Telang said the electric Indica would be launched in Norway, UK and Denmark markets in the next 12-14 months but his company was still evaluating whether there is any potential for electric cars in India.
"We have to look into the cost equation in India. We have to see the market demand as it will be an expensive vehicle...Electricity is also not easily available in the country," Telang said.
This car would not use the commonly used lead-acid batteries but Telang did not specify if it would use the more expensive lithium-ion ones.
He said that an electric version of cargo Ace would be launched in European markets by early next year. On Tata Motors' hybrid vehicle programme, Telang said the company was working on hybrid buses for city transportation.
