The $2,500 car
India's Tata Motors introduced its Nano, a $2,500 vehicle that makes car ownership affordable to millions of Indians who could only previously afford a motorcycle. Environmentalists are of course concerned about the Nano's contributions to air pollution, despite its lower emissions than the typical car. The car can go 60 mph and has room for four, but it has no trunk and no AC. I'll stick with my hybrid, even with its small trunk.
I report on the environment and Chesapeake Bay. A native of West Virginia, I have focused mainly on Maryland's environment since moving here in 1983. Along the way, I've crewed aboard a skipjack in the bay, canoed under city streets up the Jones Fall from the Inner Harbor, and gone deep underground in a western Maryland coal mine. Recently, I have been covering the growth and development transforming the landscape. I love seafood, rambles in the country and good stories. I hope to share some here.
Comments
Tata (and other car makers) have also been working on a compressed-air powered car -- now that is cool!
Anyone want to guess how Detroit will react to this type of thing -- "it's too unsafe!" etc.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Ov4t1P9bdGw&rel=1
Posted by: Charles | January 10, 2008 4:38 PM
Charles beat me to it. Tata has teamed up with the air car A french company. It uses compressed air to turn the pistons. their url is http://www.theaircar.com/
Posted by: cheflovesbeer | January 11, 2008 10:49 AM
BE A PART !!!! NOT BREAK APART
this is absolutly a copied idea of smart cars .. i dont understand with so many talented car designer why cant people make innovative cars.. and i think its quite sad the car compnies follow a very self centered approach towards design .. even after realising indian economy booming up .. the companies are creating mess for the country .. imagine the roads after 10 years in delhi .. will be full of these cars .. and every person will have a mobile and this car .. because at certain point of time .. easy loans and easy installments will lead a car to everyone .. why cant people think of the future for this country . why cant we have the same speed of the way we manufacturing cars , into the common transport infrastructure collective by the automobile companies with real time solutions they have to be serious in design what they offer to public , the idea of india is to grow without any painful yet an assured future which is comfortable and in the long run .. think about the world running away from gas and carbon fuels ,, and india is falling into the hands of the oil cpmpanies ,, and desperation of every person who will drive the car in next 20 years ,,its a clear and alarming , india need to gave a wake up call for those sleeping ..
i knw it sounds like absultly absurd that some comments like unwanted ,,like this but the idea of being a innovator or designer holds responsibility
of creating a smart solutions
i disagree if this car is for villages just beacuse its cheap .. the idea is still not comunicated
.. we cannot use the microscope to study stars and galaxies
be a part!!! not break apart ...!!
Posted by: sabs | January 12, 2008 10:26 PM