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The OneCAT Air Car (later renamed OneFlowAIR<ref name="renaming">
The OneCAT Air Car (later renamed OneFlowAIR<ref name="renaming">
At [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]]'s demand, all MDI products containing "CATs" in their name were renamed by the end of 2008: "CATs" was replaced with "FlowAIR" which is a wordplay on flower. {{cite web |url=http://www.mdi.lu/english/actualite.php |title=A new Brand Name for MDI Products |accessdate=2009-03-08 |publisher=MDI |date=2008-09-18 }}
At [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]]'s demand, all MDI products containing "CATs" in their name were renamed by the end of 2008: "CATs" was replaced with "FlowAIR" which is a wordplay on flower. {{cite web |url=http://www.mdi.lu/english/actualite.php |title=A new Brand Name for MDI Products |accessdate=2009-03-08 |publisher=MDI |date=2008-09-18 }}
</ref>)was shown at the 2008 [[New York International Auto Show|New York Car Show]] from March 21-30, 2008. It was displayed under the Exhibitor: "Automotive X-Prize" in location: Crystal Palace CP12. <ref>[http://www.mdi.lu/eng/affiche_eng.php?page=communique3 MDI Enterprises S.A<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.autoshowny.com/files/exhibitors/2008/north_concourse.pdf</ref>.
</ref>) was shown at the 2008 [[New York International Auto Show|New York Car Show]] from March 21-30, 2008. It was displayed under the Exhibitor: "Automotive X-Prize" in location: Crystal Palace CP12. <ref>[http://www.mdi.lu/eng/affiche_eng.php?page=communique3 MDI Enterprises S.A<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.autoshowny.com/files/exhibitors/2008/north_concourse.pdf</ref>.


== Models ==
== Models ==

Revision as of 15:52, 22 October 2009

Motor Development International
Company typePrivate S.A.
IndustryAutomobile industry
GenreCar manufacturer
FoundedCarros
FounderGuy Nègre
Headquarters
Carros
,
France
Key people
Guy Nègre, Cyril Nègre
ProductsCompressed air car
Websitehttp://mdi.lu/

Motor Development International SA (MDI) is a french company that is famous for designing compressed air car prototypes marketed under the title "the Air car". The address in Luxembourg was only for financial purposes, there has never been a factory or whatever industrial activity there.

In 2002, a team of Swedish journalists from magazine Teknikens värld went to Nice to meet Guy Nègre and try out the air car.[1] They test-drove the car and took pictures of it.[2]

The OneCAT Air Car (later renamed OneFlowAIR[3]) was shown at the 2008 New York Car Show from March 21-30, 2008. It was displayed under the Exhibitor: "Automotive X-Prize" in location: Crystal Palace CP12. [4][5].

Models

MDI AirPod at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show
MDI OneFlowAir at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show

MDI proposes a range of vehicles developed on an identical concept: [6]

  • AirPod seats three (one facing backward), with a top speed of 40 mph (64 km/h) and it has a range of 130 miles (210 km) before a refill. Expected release: end of 2009. [7].
  • OneFlowAIR (formerly known as OneCATs[3]) is an economical car (3,500 to 5,300 euros; weighing around 380 kg) expected to be sold from 2010 on in bi-energy form (hybrid air-gasoline vehicle). [8] .[9]
  • CityFlowAIR (formerly known as CityCATs[3]). Several CityFlowAIR variants are envisaged: a Family with 6 seats, a taxi with (5 seats), a pick-up with (2 seats) and a van with (2 seats), all supported by the same chassis. With a power of 50 hp (in dual energy ie. with compressed air solely under 50 km/h and aided by a liquid fuel at higher speeds), these vehicles would have a range of 1500 km and a maximum speed of 130 km/h, consuming 2 liters/100 km. The vehicle weight would be approximately 850 kg.
  • MiniFlowAIR (formerly known as MiniCATs[3]) is a small vehicle with three-abreast seating. The MiniFlowAIR in dual energy has a range of 1500 km (900 miles) and a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph). The time for electric-powered pressure recharging is 4 hours. The weight of the vehicle is 550 kg including air tanks. The MiniFlowAIR's prototype was featured in the latest edition of the 'Salon Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2002'[10]
  • MultiFlowAIR (formerly known as MultiCATs[3]) is a modular project of vehicle for transport of passengers or carriage of goods. The autonomous vehicles can constitute a train of up to 4 modules. The idea is that it could be leased by municipalities and used as an alternative to conventional buses.

Filling

Filling the tanks with compressed air takes 3–4 minutes; therefore, the cars will also be able to be used for longer journeys. In addition to the compressed air refuelling option, the car has a built-in air compressor that can plug into any standard electric outlet and refill the tanks in 4 hours.

Development history

The Air Car has been in development for twenty years. The design, particularly the engine, has undergone several radical changes.

In the original Nègre air engine, one piston compresses air from the atmosphere to mix with the stored compressed air (which will cool drastically as it expands). This mixture drives the second piston, providing the actual engine power. Nègre's engine works with constant torque, and the only way to change the torque to the wheels is to use a pulley transmission of constant variation, losing some efficiency. Armando Regusci's version[11] of the air engine has several advantages over the original Nègre design.

In Regusci's version, the transmission system is direct to the wheel, and has variable torque from zero to the maximum, enhancing efficiency. When the vehicle is stopped, Guy Nègre's engine has to be on and working, losing energy, while the Regusci's version need not. In 2001-2004 MDI switched to a design similar to that described in Regusci's patents, which date back to 1990[12].

Zero Pollution Motors and MDI are among the teams who've committed to participation in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize competition. [13] As of September 2009 they do not appear on the list of registered teams[14]. As of October 2009 it appears they did not qualify for the next stage in the competiton[15].

Production history

2000-2009: Production in France was claimed to be starting in late 2000[16], and at frequent intervals, in several countries, thereafter.

2003: The Eolo Car is a version of the Air Car that was to be manufactured in Italy in 2003, but failed to get into production.

The Future: There are now 50 fabrication and distribution licenses signed in the world. Some of the countries that have signed agreements include France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, etc.[citation needed] Zero Pollution Motors would like to make MDI vehicles in the United States [17]. The last one is MDI Andina S.A who would like to sell the car in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Panama[18]. MDI has reached an agreement with Tata Motors, who are to produce and sell OneCAT cars in India[19].

2011: Mr Vencat has said that manufacturing plants in the United States will open in late 2010 or early 2011, with the first possibly located in Newburgh, N.Y. [20].

Distributors

IT MDI-Energy Pty Ltd in Australasia.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ MDI Enterprises S.A
  2. ^ Göran Schüsseleder. "Provkörning av MDI Air Car (In Swedish)". Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e At Caterpillar's demand, all MDI products containing "CATs" in their name were renamed by the end of 2008: "CATs" was replaced with "FlowAIR" which is a wordplay on flower. "A new Brand Name for MDI Products". MDI. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  4. ^ MDI Enterprises S.A
  5. ^ http://www.autoshowny.com/files/exhibitors/2008/north_concourse.pdf
  6. ^ http://www.aircars.tk
  7. ^ http://www.mdi.lu/english/airpod.php
  8. ^ MDI Enterprises S.A
  9. ^ air car OneCAT models of the CATvolution
  10. ^ http://www.motordeaire.com/Img/SalonParis.jpg
  11. ^ Motor
  12. ^ Armando
  13. ^ Zero Pollution Motors - Air Car
  14. ^ http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams
  15. ^ http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams
  16. ^ BBC News | AFRICA | The car that runs on air
  17. ^ Zero Pollution Motors - Air Car
  18. ^ http://www.motordeaire.com/mascerca.html#Eng
  19. ^ Tata Motors - Media Centre "The agreement between Tata Motors and MDI envisages Tata’s supporting further development and refinement of the technology, and its application and licensing for India."
  20. ^ http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/the-air-car-blows-back-into-the-picture/
  21. ^ IT MDI-Energy: Towards 100% Sustainability - Company
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