Imagine driving a car that runs on air? Stop dreaming. A French car company is about to develop a vehicle that could save a ton on your gas bill.
PSA Peugeot Citroen thinks it will be able to develop a car that runs on air by 2016.
The developers claim that it will save 45 percent on fuel bills for the average driver. Drivers in towns and cities could save as much as 80 percent as the car will run on air four-fifths of the time. The car could go for 50 minutes in the city without using any gas, the Daily Mail reports.
The car uses a normal internal combustion engine, but it also has a hydraulic pump which forces compressed air against fluid which makes the wheels move.
Peugeot has already developed four "Hybrid Air" prototypes which they've driven 12,000 miles. The cars can run on petrol or air but the air power is made particularly for city driving as it is activated below 43 mph.
The air system can even re-use the energy that is lost while slowing or stopping as it contains an adapted gearbox and compressed air cylinders that sore and release energy.
While this system may sound advanced, it is expected to cost about $1,500 less than regular hybrid cars as expensive batteries are no longer necessary.
The outside of the car doesn't look out of the ordinary. Peugeot expects to develop even smaller models with advanced features in the future.
"We are not talking about weird and wacky machines. These are going to be in everyday cars," a spokesman told the Daily Mail.
The cars will be more energy efficient and cheaper to run, but they will still be safe to drive.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
