NICE:A car that runs on air? What seemed like a pipe dream may soon become reality as Frenchman Guy Negre hopes versions of his compressed air car will be produced in India this year by Tata, after a 15-year quest for backers for his invention.

Negre believes the time is right for his design with oil prices at record highs and pressure on carmakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.

"My car is zero pollution in town and almost no pollution on the highways," said Negre, at his firm Motor Development International, based near in Nice in the south of France. The vehicle can travel 100 kilometres at a cost of €1 in fuel, he added.

The former Formula One motor racing engineer's invention depends on pressurised air to move the pistons, which in turn help to compress the air again in a reservoir.

The engine also has an electric motor, which needs to be periodically recharged, to top up the air pressure.

The car's bottles of compressed air - similar to those used by divers - can be filled up at service stations in several minutes.

The latest versions of the cars also include a fuel engine option to extend the vehicle's overall range.

The car, which is protected by some 50 patents, will cost around €4,000. Using composite materials, it will weigh no more than 330 kgs and its maximum speed is 150km/h.

Negre aims to set up mini factories in regions where the car is used.