The MiniC.A.T Compressed Air Car: Where Did It Go?
In 2007, Indian automotive giant Tata Motors announced a partnership which could lead to the commercial production of Europe’s first compressed air car. Three years later, the 
idea has seemingly fallen off the radar. The MiniC.A.T sounds like a great idea, so where has it gone? Was it really just too good to be true?
The Specs & Numbers
The MiniC.A.T is a lightweight, zero-emissions, fiberglass vehicle that is fueled by compressed air and a 1 liter tank of vegetable oil. With one charge, the MiniC.A.T keeps drivers going for 10 hours or for 200-300 kilometers – numbers that are nearly double those of electric-powered cars.
While a gas car needs an oil change after 5,000 miles, the MiniC.A.T keeps going for 50,000 kilometers until it needs a new tank of vegetable oil. Recharging the car with compressed air would take between 2-3 minutes and cost approximately 1.5 Euros. If fueling stations are unavailable, the MiniC.A.T will come with an attached compressor that refills the tank within 4 hours.
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