Catecar installs its assembly line in Reconvilier
Reconvilier (BE), 5 October 2010 – Catecar SA is going to produce compressed air vehicles in Reconvilier (Bernese Jura), on the premises of the former Boillat no 2 plant of the Swissmetal group. The work to install the first assembly line starts this month and the first vehicle entirely built in Switzerland will leave the plant in March 2011.
"For approximately one year, this pre-industrial assembly line will enable us to produce 150 vehicles per month at the plant", Henri-Philippe Sambuc, promoter of the Catecar project, is pleased to announce. Later on, the industrial assembly line will increase capacity to 700 vehicles per month.
The Airpod will be the first "made in Reconvilier" or "Swiss made" model. This quintessential urban vehicle can transport people or goods. It is very compact and is ideal both for personal use and for commercial fleets. For this reason, Geneva Airport and some towns in French-speaking Switzerland have already shown a keen interest.
The compressed air engine developed by the French company MDI runs on a charged tank of compressed air in the vehicle. Depending on the variant of engine chosen, autonomy can be extended by heating ambient air to produce compressed air while driving the vehicle. This engine does not pollute (neither fine particles nor nitrogen oxides) and does not produce CO2.
Autonomy and recharging
The autonomy of the Airpod can greatly exceed 200 kilometres and the vehicle can be recharged using the in-built compressor in four hours or in two minutes at a filling station. For maintenance and after-sales service, a network of 200 "Catecar" garages located in large towns will be set up as of April 2011.
The Airpod will be approved in Switzerland between now and spring 2011. Approval for the European Union countries was granted last spring by the Luxembourg authorities.
First-rate partners
Catecar SA has acquired a licence granting it exclusive rights to produce and sell MDI vehicles under 500 kilos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Catecar is fortunate in being able to form a number of partnerships to launch this new type of vehicle. Bobst SA is offering its experience in advising on production issues, while some of the major professionals on the automotive market are involved in the marketing aspects of the project. Geneva International Airport is proving to be a valuable ally for specific markets such as airports.
Lastly, the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) considers compressed air to be an important energy source and is working with MDI on developing the recharging stations. Several EPFL start-ups are also going to work in partnership with Catecar, particularly in the area of casting techniques and the concept of car pool fleets as a complement to public transport.
Reconvilier (BE), 5 October 2010 – Catecar SA is going to produce compressed air vehicles in Reconvilier (Bernese Jura), on the premises of the former Boillat no 2 plant of the Swissmetal group. The work to install the first assembly line starts this month and the first vehicle entirely built in Switzerland will leave the plant in March 2011.
"For approximately one year, this pre-industrial assembly line will enable us to produce 150 vehicles per month at the plant", Henri-Philippe Sambuc, promoter of the Catecar project, is pleased to announce. Later on, the industrial assembly line will increase capacity to 700 vehicles per month.
The Airpod will be the first "made in Reconvilier" or "Swiss made" model. This quintessential urban vehicle can transport people or goods. It is very compact and is ideal both for personal use and for commercial fleets. For this reason, Geneva Airport and some towns in French-speaking Switzerland have already shown a keen interest.
The compressed air engine developed by the French company MDI runs on a charged tank of compressed air in the vehicle. Depending on the variant of engine chosen, autonomy can be extended by heating ambient air to produce compressed air while driving the vehicle. This engine does not pollute (neither fine particles nor nitrogen oxides) and does not produce CO2.
Autonomy and recharging
The autonomy of the Airpod can greatly exceed 200 kilometres and the vehicle can be recharged using the in-built compressor in four hours or in two minutes at a filling station. For maintenance and after-sales service, a network of 200 "Catecar" garages located in large towns will be set up as of April 2011.
The Airpod will be approved in Switzerland between now and spring 2011. Approval for the European Union countries was granted last spring by the Luxembourg authorities.
First-rate partners
Catecar SA has acquired a licence granting it exclusive rights to produce and sell MDI vehicles under 500 kilos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Catecar is fortunate in being able to form a number of partnerships to launch this new type of vehicle. Bobst SA is offering its experience in advising on production issues, while some of the major professionals on the automotive market are involved in the marketing aspects of the project. Geneva International Airport is proving to be a valuable ally for specific markets such as airports.
Lastly, the Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) considers compressed air to be an important energy source and is working with MDI on developing the recharging stations. Several EPFL start-ups are also going to work in partnership with Catecar, particularly in the area of casting techniques and the concept of car pool fleets as a complement to public transport.
Source: www.catecar.ch
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