"We have a vehicle that will address that market, but it's not a motorcycle," Vencat added. He can't release more information about that yet, but it will be a smaller vehicle that would fill a similar niche in countries like Taiwan where motorcycles are prevalent. Zero Pollution Motors plans to bring a six-seater air-powered car to the U.S. market after competing in the Automotive X Prize race in September 2009. The X Prize offers $10 million prize to a marketable vehicle that exceeds a fuel economy of 100 miles per gallon. The ZPM car runs on compressed air only when traveling under 35 miles per hour. At higher speeds, the car burns fuel to warm up the air, expanding it and allowing the vehicle to travel on less air per mile. Some of the expanded air also goes back to the air tank, recharging the compressed air supply. This system can operate at more than 100 miles per gallon, Vencat said. With an eight- or 10-gallon fuel tank, the cars should have a range of 800-1,000 miles. The motor can also be plugged in and operated as a compressor to refill the air tank. Vencat expects that fueling stations will arise as the car gains popularity. "The good thing is you could put a compressed air station on campuses, in malls," he said. "You don't have the security situation that you do with gasoline." ZPM plans to start a plant to manufacture the cars by late 2010 or early 2011. Related Links: Discovery News blog: EnvironMental Case How Stuff Works: Compressed Air |
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