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Luxembourg-based Motor Development International (MDI) is raising the hopes of green-car technology fans, and the eyebrows of skeptics, with its promised line of zero-emission cars powered by compressed air.


Green Car Advisor contributor Nick Kurczewski recently paid a visit to MDI's research and development center in the south of France, and climbed aboard the company's AirPOD city-car, the first North American journalist - he was told - to be treated to a ride in one of the low speed city cars.


Here's his report.



First Ride: MDI's Air Car


The goal of the trip was to to see first-hand if an air-powered car has real market potential, or whether the idea is just a lot of hot air, impractical for everyday use.

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Never camera-shy, correspondent Nick Kurczewski poses in rear-facing passenger seat of MDI's AirPOD compressed-air car.
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The technology seems feasible. MDI is developing several small and lightweight vehicles, but the basic blueprint is the same and involves the use of refillable, on-board, high-tech, carbon-fiber, pressurized air tanks (built by the European aerospace firm EADS), and a piston engine specially adapted to run on air power.


The pressurized tanks store compressed air that runs the engine, which in turn sends power to the driven wheels.


Behind the Wheel


There have been quite a few reports about the air cars, including ours last October, but little in the way of in-the-car impressions. So Green Car Advisor arranged to visit MDI's R&D faciltiy to bring our audience the experience of air-powered motoring - albeit from the passenger seat.


We were given a ride in a prototype of MDI's four-seat AirPOD.  Driving was denied us because the vehicle isn't finished - refinements are still being made on an almost daily basis - and MDI decided it wasn't ready for a journalist to get behind the wheel.


Not that there is a wheel to get behind. Controling the car is done with a joystick that's mounted to the right of the single front seat.


Push forward to accelerate. Pull back to stop. Move the stick left or right to turn. It's as simple as that.  


The driver enters the car via the huge glass windshield, which hinges upwards for easy access. There are no foot pedals, and in this prototype, no dashboard or instruments, although MDI is working on a simple digital display for things like speed and remaining range.



       






The MDI AirPOD, seen from the front, with  the company's air compressor station to the left.
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Tags: Alternative Fuels, Air Car, AirPOD, EADS, Guy Negre, MDI, Motor Development International

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Future or Fantasy? We Take a First Ride in MDI's Compressed-Air Car was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.