Air-powered car edges closer to reality

FANCY a car that runs on thin air? We all would, and Peugeot is almost ready to turn it from science-fiction to science-fact.

The firm is ready to actually demonstrate its Hybrid Air technology, where a 208 supermini runs partly on petrol and partly on compressed air, resulting in astonishing fuel economy figures topping 140mpg.

A compressed air tank beneath the boot stores energy, while clever engine management swaps between petrol and air to achieve maximum efficiency. At times, particularly in urban environments, the engine can run on air alone. At these times there are no CO2 emissions and no fuel is consumed.

The driver can also select a driving mode that forces the car to use air as much as possible. The compressed air tank can be recharged in as little as 10 seconds either through deceleration or direct pumping from the engine.

The complex nature of the drivetrain means that it's only available in automatic guise, but Peugeot says that's better for efficiency anyway.

A weight-cutting spree including using expensive composite materials wherever possible has reduced the prototype 208's weight to just 860kg. The weight reduction makes heavy systems like power steering superfluous, helping to cut even more bulk from the finished product.

The Paris Motor Show opens on October 4, running until October 19. The impact of the Hybrid Air system is likely to last much longer.

By Press Association reporter