No. 315: A compressed–air engine vehicle that makes a maximum speed of 129 km per hour (September 23, 2011)

Toyota Industries developed a vehicle that does not rely on an engine and electricity. Named KURIN (Clean), it employs the compressor of its car air-conditioners. Toyota Industries’ car air-conditioners enjoy the largest share in the world. It is a small and lightweight vehicle with a high output, and made a maximum speed of 129.2 km per hour in the test run early September. The company plans to apply to Guinness as a world record. The compressed-air engine vehicle was released to the public on Sept. 22.

Compressed air inside the cylinders, which is sent to the compressor for inflation, is the source of power. Young employees of this company developed this concept vehicle as one of their extracurricular activities to improve and upgrade their technological capabilities. The company does not have any plan to put it into commercial application. The vehicle is purely a handmade product. It is a one-seated three-wheeler made of carbon. It is 3.5 m long and 0.8 m wide, and weighs 100 kg. The development team is aiming at a model capable of traveling underwater as the next stage. Activities to realize a cleaner society are under way from various aspects.