On a recent episode of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) founder Ethan Tucker sought a multimillion-dollar investment for an U.S.-based alternative vehicle factory. With a tentative deal in place with Robert Herjavec, the company is moving ahead with plans to build an air-powered vehicle named the “AIRPod.”
As the U.S. licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI, the developer of the AIRPod as a compression-based alternative to the internal combustion engine, ZPM has attained rights to build the first of several modular plants in the U.S. to produce the ‘AIRPod.’ Hawaii is the anticipated location of the first production plant.
The urban area focused AIRPod will have a top speed of almost 50 mph and a maximum range of 111 miles before needing to be refilled. According to ZPM, the car can be refilled like a gasoline car by transferring air from a compressed air station, similar to the one that exists today at the gas stations for filling up tires, but with larger capacity and pressure in order to refill the vehicles. The vehicles are expected to cost around $10,000.
Take a look at this NewsyTech video to learn more about the AIRPod and ZPM’s plans for the vehicle:
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Will air-powered cars take off in America’s urban centers? Is it just a gimmick that will come and go? Tell us what you think by leaving your comments below.
To read more manufacturing and technology news by Jon Minnick, sign up for our newsletter. You can also follow Manufacturing Business Technology on Twitter @MBTwebsite.