March 21, 2007: Tata Motors seems to be on an extended fast drive. The country’s largest automobile manufacturer is said to have entered into an agreement to develop a car which runs on compressed air. This mean that the car would be virtually pollution free, said a report.

The Indian carmaker has inked the deal in this regard with with French company MDI for the car. According to the report, MDI’s Air Car can be powered by an external compressed air pump or by an internal compressor running on petrol. According to a document on the MDI Air Car, the technology used is different from what we see on the road today. The document explains that compressed air technology allows for engines that are both non-polluting and economical.

Seemingly affordable, MDI AirCar could have a performance rate that stands up to current standards. Significantly, they do not pollute too. The car would be made of foam and fibre glass which has survived official crash tests.

According to another industry report, MDI and Tata Motors would work together to develop a new and cost-saving technology for various applications for the Indian market that meets with severe regulations for environmental protection. The new technology is expected to be passed on to other applications too where cost competitiveness and respect for environmental questions go hand in hand, it added.

The cost f the car is expected to be around £4,000 and would have a range of around 300km between refueling, said a report. It would have a top speed of around 60kmh using air alone and 200kmh using an air and fuel combination engine, it added.