117mpg hybrid car that runs on air coming in 2016

A car that runs on air could be on the road as early as 2016, according to a report.

French automaker Peugeot Citroen's latest automotive innovation — named 'Hybrid Air” — operates on compressed air, gasoline or a combination of the two, DigitalTrends.com reports.

At speeds above 40 mph, the car uses a standard three-cylinder gasoline engine with an automatic transmission. However, at speeds under 43 mph, the car uses compressed air to power a hydraulic motor, allowing the gasoline engine to shut down.

When climbing a steep hill or accelerating, the two powertrains work together to give the car extra power, according to MotorAuthority.com.

To refill the tanks, the hydraulic motor works in reverse, using regenerative forces to suck in air and compress it for later use.

According to its designers, a small city car like the one previewed by the concept could average a fuel economy of about 117 mpg. The other benefit of the system is that it only adds about 220 pounds to the weight of a car, which is considerably less than a heavy battery-based hybrid. It's also considerably cheaper, making it ideal for cheap city cars.