Electric cars that run on compressed air.
Interruptive technology that powers electric cars using compressed air will significantly reduce the cost of electric car ownership. Compared with a lithium iron battery, an Airpod compressed-air “battery” is cheaper to manufacture, offers as good a driving range (in some cases better), and a smaller environmental footprint than electric vehicles that are currently on the market.
Christchurch-based Air Future Ltd, together with its Australian subsidiary company, has the license rights to manufacture the ‘AirPod’ and AirOne/AirCity range of electric cars throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
Plugging in your ‘AirPod’ vehicle charges the compressed-air “battery”. The release of the stored energy (air) powers the motor. The driving range with compressed air alone is up to 120km but in dual fuel mode of air and 2.25 litres of fuel the driving range can be increased to 360km.
Charging can be done at home or the office, or at electric car charging stations.
The vehicles, designed in France, come in models ranging from delivery vehicles to double passenger commuter cars and cosmopolitan four-seaters. We’re constantly striving to deliver affordable yet functional electric vehicles, with the potential for developing autonomous vehicles in the future. View range
Urban 2 seater expected to be popular in S.E. Asia
Single seater delivery Airpods
Roomy AirOne family and highway vehicle with dual fuel mode
Next steps.
Luxembourg based company, MDI has developed its manufacturing process whereby 80% of the vehicle can be built in-situ in a modular factory, generating wealth that remains in the producing country. Air Future will be progressing with a capital raising program to establish the first production facility in Australasia, with the aim of accelerating the number of environmentally sound yet affordable vehicles in the region. In conjunction with MDI, there is also the opportunity to market and develop business in South East Asia.
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Other innovative applications.
The compressed air battery technology can also be used to store solar power generated by homes and wind energy generated by wind turbines.
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No money is currently being sought.
The financial products cannot currently be applied for or acquired under the offer or intended offer.
The offer when it is made it will be in accordance with the Financial Markets Conduct Act.
Air Future Ltd is seeking preliminary indications of interest.
Indications of interest can be made by filling in the form (click here). No indication of interest will create an obligation or commitment to acquire the financial products.
FAQs
1. How far can a vehicle travel on the 250 litres of compressed air.
The AirPod2 can travel 100 km to 120 km on air alone depending on usage and terrain with two 125 litre compressed air bottles.
By heating the air in a separate burner outside of the engine the vehicle driving range is increased to 300 to 360 km.
2. Is the engine as powerful as an internal combustion engine?
The 1 litre engine is 60 kW @ 3,000 rpm. A typical good petrol engine is around 50 - 60 kW per litre, but at higher revs.
The torque of this air engine is significantly higher per litre than a non turbo petrol engine.
3. Where do the compressed air cylinders get recharged?
Recharging can take place at home by pluging in to your home electricity where the reversible motor serves as a compressor. Alternatively refils will be able to take place at Air Filling Stations (fixed or mobile) or standard city electricity vehicle recharging stations.
At an ‘Air Filling Station’ recharging will be two to three minutes just like recharging your BBQ gas bottle.
Mobile filling stations to deliver filling at premises or where the vehicles are are also anticipated.
4. How long does it take to fill/recharge the tanks?
Where homes are provided with 16 AMP supply (Europe) recharging can be completed in 7 hours.
Homes with a 10 AMP supply (New Zealand & Australia) charging will be approximatedly 10 to 11 hours. In Europe at a conventional plug-in recharging station with 32 AMP, such as available for traditional electric vehicles, supply recharging is 3.5 hours.
Recharging at an Air Filling Station would take approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
5. How do you cope with long distance travel?
In all vehicles a small, efficient burner placed between the compressed air tanks and the engine heats the air to up to 600 degrees C thereby tripling the driving range.
6. When burning a fuel what are the emissions?
Because the burning is continuous and limited to a temperature of only 600 degrees C there are almost zero amounts of hazardous emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC).
7. What is the cost to travell both on air and on the dual system.
The initial AirPod2 vehicle with an air alone travelling range of say 120 Km (depending on usage) will cost approximately $4.00 to fill the tanks (16kW hours electricty charge x $0.25 per kWh). This equates to approximately $3.33 per 100 Km v $12.00 per 100 Km for a conventional vehicle using 5 litres per 100Km).
On dual fuel and to triple the autonomy to 360km range on a tank of compresed air the AirPod2 will use about 2.25 litres of fuel to heat the air (for expansion) under its dual energy system. With a fuel cost of NZ$2.40 per litre of 91 grade petrol the total fuel cost would approximate $5.40 (petrol) + $4.00 (electricity) = $9.40 to achieve 360 km ($2.61 per 100km). A conventional vehicle using using 5 litres per 100 km would cost $43.20 i.e $12.00 per 100Km).
8. What are the vehicles made of?
MDI has opted to create light vehicles (at least half the weight of those with identical capacity) out of “composite” materials, until now the preserve of very high end vehicles produced on a small scale.
9. I want an AirOne. When can I buy one? Can I order one?
The first factory is an AirPod2 manufacturing factory which we are currently preparing for. Production lines to manufacture the AirOne are expected to be ready for implementation approximately two years following the first AirPod2 factory. Expressions of interest to purchase vehicles can be placed through our website.