TravelFootprint

Running purely on compressed air and operated using only a joy-stick, France's Motor Development International (MDI) has unveiled its new hope for the future of greener motoring: the AIRPod!

The vehicle is the the brainchild of MDI and New Zealand based company IndraNet Technologies, and was launched in Nice earlier this month. Its makers claim owners of the AIRPod will be able to achieve motoring costs of $2 (approx 80p) per 100km. Dr Louis Arnoux, Managing Director of IndraNet, said: "Why pay $15 to $25/100 km to drive our cars like we do in New Zealand and Australia, when we can do it on $2 or less?"

Using the joystick, the vehicle is steered by controlling the amount of power directed to each wheel. Running solely on compressed air, its manufacturers claim it has a driving range of over 200km, and that the dual-fuel version which is powered by both air and biofuel, has an extended range of over 600km.

The figures alone sound impressive, but Guy Negre, inventor and designer of the AIRPod, says it is not just economy that makes the AIRPod so special. A refill of the 175 litre air bottle takes only 1.2 minutes, which Negre sees as a distinct advantage when competing with other `green` vehicles. "Traditional electric vehicles typically take 5 hours or more for a full recharge, and they cost about five times more than an AIRPod", he said.

Its manufacturers also feel it competes in other areas, such as safety, which are becoming increasingly important in the developing green car market. "Safety wise, MDI is producing the ultimate… The airbags are outside the AIRPod. When a crash is imminent the airbags inflate and absorb the kinetic energy of the crash... The Pod itself is made of composite materials that constitute a safe cell protecting the passengers," said Dr Arnoux.

Another boast is its versatility. While being `substantially smaller than a smart car`, the AIRPod can transport up to three passengers, as well as being based on a `reconfigurable platform`, which means it can also be produced as a golf cart, a small utility vehicle, or as an off road farm vehicle.

The AIRPods are designed to fit within the regulations of a number of EU countries that allow certain inner-city vehicles to be driven without a driving licence (similar to regulations concerning mopeds). Under these regulations their speed is limited to 45 km/hour, but with a drivers licence they can be driven up to 70 km/hour.

The car makers have already signed an agreement with the Mayor of Nice to supply him with a fleet of utility AIRPods. They say their ultimate aim is to create something comparable to a bicycle-sharing scheme, whereby the public can swipe a credit card and jump into an AIRPod at a number of given points around the city.

IT MDI Energy Ltd, the joint subsidiary of IndraNet and MDI, also plans to showcase the AIRPod in Australia and New Zealand later this year, where they say they have identified a keen demand for the off-road application.

Travelfootprint.org note, however, that while the vehicle produces zero tail-pipe emissions, the company have not published any figures indicating the amount of energy required to pressurise enough air to power the car. We'd be interested to find out...