Top News
Most Read
Most E-mailed
E-mail Article
Print Article
Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance to Test AirPod, A Clean Compressed-air Powered Vehicle
Paris, Amstelveen, 17 October 2008 – In spring 2009, Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance are to launch a 6-month trial of zero-emission compressed-air powered vehicles. Developed by MDI (Motor Development International), the vehicles, dubbed AirPod, are designed as people carriers for small/medium volume loads. The 4-seat vehicles are two meters long and weigh 220 Kg. Per-km operating costs are extremely low. The AirPod has a very small turning circle and is driven with one hand using a joystick system. Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance are the first companies to consider using these new-generation compressed air vehicles.
They will be evaluating the AirPods from the angles of safety, ergonomics, deployment, reliability and vehicle maintenance. An AirPod prototype was demonstrated for the first time outside of its production site on 10 October 2008 at the Air France Industries corporate headquarters at Le Bourget. Guy Nègre, MDI President, put the vehicle through its paces for Alain Bassil, President of Air France Industries, and Pierre Girault, Head of Quality-Safety-Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility, and their teams, together with representatives from the Air France Operations Division, DGE. Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance plans to deploy zero-pollution vehicles are in line with the AIR FRANCE KLM Group's environmental policy to roll out initiatives designed to reduce the impact of its operations on the ecosystem.
To achieve this objective, Air France has committed using all the means at its disposal. The Company has invested in a state-of-the art fleet, for example, whose average age is currently seven years. This makes the Air France long-haul fleet one of the youngest in the world. In addition, with a network organized around a series of hubs to minimize use of precious resources, the group seeks to systematically abolish unnecessary fuel consumption in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously developing approaches that limit the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of its ground operations. The Company and its partners are working to help combat climate change.
About MDI
Founded in 1991 by engine specialist Guy Nègre, MDI seeks to promote and develop clean energy solutions and to design and manufacture non-polluting vehicles and systems. His design office employs some 50 engineers and technicians who develop new technologies and innovative production concepts for sustainable applications. MDI has filed a substantial portfolio of patents in 127 countries, notably involving improvements to the efficiency of compressed air engines and their technical environment.
About AFI KLM E&M
Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance, which joined forces following the Air France KLM merger, are world-leading multi-product MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) providers with a joint workforce of 15,000, offering comprehensive repair capability, integration expertise, component pool operational support and a powerful logistics network. Together they support more than 900 aircraft and serve upwards of 150 major international airlines.
