From afar, the Airpod looks like a gigantic insect that runs with miniscule wheels. The fact is: it wouldn’t be surprising if you would mistake the Airpod for the car of the future, because of its unorthodox design and look. On the other hand, this weird-looking vehicle that looks like a flattened version of a Smart Fortwo, is already used in airports in France and the Netherlands. Its creator, Guy Negre has convinced Air France and KLM officials to make his creation the best option in airport transportation.

The Airpod is a pint-sized vehicle that can carry four people altogether and its most attractive feature is its energy source −compressed air. To harness its energy, it has a tank that is located at its rear, which is filled with air that it uses for its operation. The Airpod is meant to carry passengers in both the Charles De Gaulle in Paris and Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Basically, the Airpod weighs only 450 lbs. and it is powered by compressed air, which has been the center of Guy Negre’s efforts for the past 20 years. Of course, you really can’t expect the Airpod to cruise like a Lamborghini, but once you fill its air tank, it’s good enough for 135 miles until the next stop. Aside from that, its modest 43 mph will give the airport passengers a good view of the whole scene.

The Airpod however doesn’t use a very viable technology, considering the need to have air stations just to make it primetime. Aside from that, there’s always the question of its performance, which other alternative energy sources such as electricity, CNG, and solar power can provide. Also, the Airpod’s production costs are far too expensive when you calculate the benefits that it’ll give back. Despite of these, Guy Negre and his company, Motor Development International, remain optimistic that it’ll be the chosen transportation of the future; albeit in a limited role.

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