Forget hybrid vehicles, forget electric cars. How can any of them match up to a car that runs on next to nothing? Ladies and gentleman, presenting the Air Car, made by French company MDI in collaboration with India's Tata Motors. Running on compressed air, the revolutionary vehicle may be introduced in India before the end of this year.

Although the car consumes no fuel, yet there is a cost associated with filling its tanks with compressed air. However, considering the mileage that the vehicle delivers, the running costs are extremely low.

Furthermore, with no combustion there is no emission - an extremely important trait in the currently pollution-conscious world.

Although the Air Car doesn't require traditional fuel options like petrol, diesel, or gas and is driven primarily by compressed air. However, the company has also developed an alternative means to power the car using a combination of air and petrol, diesel or ethanol, just like a hybrid.

MDI has officially said that they ''will release in France the first cars for the Air France company before June 2009. The cars will be available for the public at the end of 2009."

Mumbai-based Tata Motors, India's third biggest car manufacturer had signed a licensing agreement with MDI for manufacturing the car in India. The agreement between the two envisages development and refinement of the technology. (See: And now, a car that runs on air from the Tata stable)

"Tata Motors has not finalised any timeframe for deployment of the technology of engines powered by compressed air. Tata Motors is licensed to deploy the technology only in India. As and when we have any details of deployment in India, we will share them with you,'' MDI added.

MDI has developed several models of the Air Car designed to accommodate two to six passengers.

A typical three-seater car, which had been unveiled earlier, is about 2.65 metres in length (smaller than the Tata Nano's 3.1 metres) and 1.62 metres wide (wider than Nano).

Though the price of the car will be officially announced at the launch, the  price is expected range from Rs2.33 lakh to Rs8.69 lakh depending on the model.

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