AIRPod

The AIRPod is a compressed-air vehicle in development by Motor Development International .[1] The AIRPod is planned to be produced in three different configurations that will vary the number of seats and amount of cargo storage while keeping the same basic chassis.[2] It is designed as a zero-emission urban vehicle. Prototypes have been tested by KLM/AirFrance for use as emission-free vehicles in airports.

This article is about the car. For Apple's wireless earphones, see AirPods.
MDI AirPod at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show

MDI has been promising production of the AirPod each year since 2000. As of October 2018, not a single production car has been created. Zero Pollution Motors is now promising production by mid-2019.[3]

Technical characteristics

(Range, mileage, and speed are claimed by MDI with no independent verification)

Technical Characteristics AIRPod AIRPod Cargo
Type Urban carrier without driving licence
Number of Seats 3-4 1
Length (m) 2.07
Width (m) 1.60
Height (m)
1.74
Turning radius (m)
1.90
Weight when empty (kg)
220
210
Useful cargo (kg)
-
300
Cargo (m³)
-
1.10
Motor
44P06 à chambre active
Total cylinder volume (cm³)
180 (active chamber + expansion chamber)
Maximum power (kW)
4 kW (5.45 cv) with 18 bars
Maximum torque (Nm)
15
Chassis / Body
Composite sandwich (glass fiber / polyurethane foam)
Front wheels
2 wheel "Diabolo"
Train arrière
Bras tirés
Tires
Front : 10×4.00-5 Rear :  100/90-16
Brakes
Rear discs
Steering
Differential adjustment of read wheel speed
Energy Recovery
Electronically controlled alternators during braking
Tank
Carbon fiber on thermoplastic
Tank Volume (litres) '
175
Tank pressure (bar)
350
Stability control
Gyroscopic assisted system with control of trajectory
Rear view
LCD screen
Active Security
External airbag
Steering control
Joystick
'Electronics
Onboard Calculator for steering and motor management
Maximum Speed (km/h)
45 km/h without license – 70 km/h with license
Range in urban cycle (km)
220
Refuel time (minute)
1.5
Cost per 100 km (€)
0.5

Production model

In September 2013 it was claimed that the vehicle would be on sale from summer 2014 with a base model with 100 km range starting at 7000 Euros, and one with an improved engine, that uses some fuel in addition to the compressed air, giving 250 km range for 8000 Euros. The vehicles will be manufactured in Bolotana, Sardinia, Italy.[4] In August 2014 MDI posted photos of a partially completed demonstration assembly line in their Carros R&D facility, and illustrations and descriptions of the proposed finished assembly line.[5] In March 2016 they posted images showing construction of the forthcoming factory in Sardinia as "underway".

US production and sales

The vehicles were promoted on the US reality television show Shark Tank in May 2015 by Zero Pollution Motors, where Robert Herjavec offered $5 million for a 50% share in the business which proposed to sell the AirPod for $10,000. Zero Pollution Motors owns the right to build a production plant and has proposed setting up a plant in Hawaii.[6] The investment deal fell through because the company did not hold the rights across North America.[7] The companies' website says production in Europe is scheduled for the first quarter of 2018 and it is accepting order reservations.

See also

References
  1. Meet the AIRPod, CNN 10 December 2010
  2. AIRPod. Motor Development International
  3. https://zeropollutionmotors.us/
  4. http://www.sardegnaoggi.it/Scienza_e_Tecnologia/2013-09-20/22916/Airpod_a_Bolotana_la_prima_auto_ad_aria_compressa_made_in_Sardegna.html
  5. MDI News page (French) press release dated 2014-08-07, with attached PDF (visited 2014-08-14)
  6. "ROBERT BUYS AIR-POWERED CAR! - Shark Tank". YouTube. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  7. "Zero Pollution Motors $5M AirPod Deal Fell Through After Shark Tank". 2paragraphs. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
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