H2GO Version 7

What I am about to talk about is something you won’t find the mainstream media talking about. But it is nonetheless a big deal. Or it could be a big deal if this product works as billed.

The last time I talked about the Ronn Motor Company H2GO system was July 2009. Since then there has been a lot of silence about this product. But Ronn Motor has just announced that they are ready to go into full production with their version 7 of the H2GO system.

According to the press release, “Ronn Motor Company announced today that it has received delivery of H2GO components and as a result is in full production of its ‘Version 7’ of the H2GO Hydrogen Combustion/Fuel Enhancement Systems. The development of ‘Version 7’ is the result of the Company’s research and development initiatives over the past three years.”

This will be good news for hydrogen gas saver and HHO advocates who have been trying for years to get such a device to market with little success. If the H2GO device works as billed and extends fuel mileage while cutting down on emissions then this could be a game changer for millions of cars with internal combustion engines.

There will indeed be a lot of public scrutiny at first. Breakthrough technology does not happen often and if the H2GO system does what is say it does, then over time, millions of barrels of oil could be saved, leading to higher MPG’s, lower gas prices and less dependence upon foreign oil.

Of course the price of the H2GO system hasn’t been released yet and it has to pencil out for the consumer, but if this device works it will shut a lot of mouths of the naysayers and open the minds inventors as to how to build a better and cheaper mousetrap than the H2GO system. This will benefit drivers everywhere along with those who just want to breathe clean, fresh air for a change.

One company that says theirs does is AquaFuel. I’ll let you decide based upon the data they present on their website. According to CEO of AquaFuel, Bo DuBose, “We both know what has transpired over the past several years with HHO, and we know the bad mark it has put on the hydrogen assist industry. If you would really take a hard look at what we have done, I feel certain you will come to the conclusion that we are not only ‘different’, but have solved the puzzle. We are NOT HHO, we are PEM CELL technology.”

The PEM fuel cell technology that Mr. DuBose is referring to is basically running a hydrogen PEM fuel cell in reverse. Normally one takes compressed hydrogen and oxygen from the ambient air and force it through a fuel cell to create electricity, heat and a water vapor as the result.

AquaFuel Inc. is doing things a bit differently, by taking distilled water and running it through fuel cell to create pure hydrogen and oxygen. This hydrogen and oxygen is then ported directed into the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines providing a cleaner burn, higher mileage when using fossil fuels and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Of particular note on the AquaFuel EcoTec is not only the claim that it will increase gas mileage by an average of 20 – 30 percent but a page where they list testimonials, test, and government documents supporting their case.

I’ll let you decide if this is enough documentation to try their product and see for yourself. The AquaFuel EcoTec is mainly targeting the trucking industry and comes with a 2 year warranty so read the warranty carefully outlined on the website before deciding if this is something you would like to try out.

And once you do try this out please report your results back here a let others know if you give this product a thumbs up or down on fuel savings and emissions reductions.

But, this leads me to the question of doesn’t this enrichment lead to more nitrous oxide coming out the tailpipe? Now this laughing gas (N2O) is no laughing matter as it is also one of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.

So, a company called ACTA SpA is taking a different approach by injecting hydrogen into diesel fuel to help long haul truck drivers increase mileage by 17-percent. This hydrogen injection unit pays for itself in 6 months and not only will it cut down on fuel consumption (thereby greenhouse gases) but it will save money at the pump as well.

According to ACTA about its new hydrogen injection unit, “The tests took place in Verona at Car Diesel S.p.A., one of the largest independent test centres for fuel consumption and engine performance in Northern Italy. A new Volvo earth mover truck, fitted with a 7.2-litre capacity, 280HP engine (D7E280), compliant with Euro 5 emission standards, was tested at 80-percent of its power with hydrogen gas injected to enrich the fuel, and the fuel consumption was compared to the same test conditions without hydrogen injection.

“The Company estimates that the reduction achieved in consumption represents a net fuel saving of over €6,000 per annum for an average long-distance HGV, which would represent a payback period of only six months, based upon Acta’s anticipated commercial pricing for this system. These results are an important technical validation of the data obtained by the Company in its own laboratory, in a previous independent engine performance test, and in road tests.”

Unlike many emerging technology companies, ACTA is starting to see a profit on its hydrogen generators which are being used to both produce and store renewable energy on a large scale and to help diesel trucks attain higher mileage.

Sure there will be skeptics to this new technology. But, validation from independent lab tests from a center with an excellent reputation is a good start where even a denier will find a hard time in quibbling with the results.

Ronn Motors and East Texas truck fleet owner, RJR Pipkin Company are reporting success in the first field trials of the H2HO direct hydrogen injection system. The H2GO system was installed in a fleet of 2008 Cummins turbo diesel powered Peterbuilt trucks.

After months of R&D, dyno testing and real-time emissions monitoring, the fleet testing showed a 32-percent reduction in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions and a 41-percent reduction in NOx (nitrous oxide) emissions.

About a month ago Ronn Motors tested a 2007 Lincoln Navigator (testing the Ford 4.6 liter and 5.4 liter family of engines) and made a conscious decision to balance fuel mileage increases with emissions reductions.

The test results from the Lincoln Navigator are published on the H2GO page and future results such as from the RJR Pipkin field trials will also be published on this page.

The HHO fest will take place at the Campus Activities Center at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg. According to organizer Joe Shea, “This is our third event in less than a year, and that demonstrates the surging interest in alternative fuels than can help Americans get off the fossil-fuel treadmill that’s so costly at the pump and bad for the environment. Hydrogen as a fuel produces no emissions, and when burned in many vehicles can save drivers 30-percent to 40-percent on gasoline or diesel fuel.”

The non-profit HHO Games is being sponsored this summer by the The American Reporter online newspaper founded in 1995. Scientists from the SRI International research institute will be there along with other invited university scientists.

Now one has to wonder after Dateline NBC ran its piece trying to debunk HAFC’s HHO device whether this has dampened the enthusiasm for HHO advocates? The HHO games website addresses this issue saying, “Dateline NBC, the son of General Electric with its vast array of nuclear and electric devices, funded in part by ExxonMobil’s ads, was not interested in the truth …”

One notable company that is missing from the 2009 Summer HHO Games is Ronn Motors. One would think this would be a good venue to show off their H2GO unit to the public at large. But, by their absence, this leaves room for many smaller inventors who may have gone unnoticed. Anyway, there is no telling what surprises, this year’s HHO Games may bring.

First on the agenda is the news that a contractor for FedEx is doing a field trial on Ronn Motors’ H2GO system for increasing mileage on delivery trucks and reducing emissions. The H2GO system is currently installed on two 18-wheeler trucks and results will be tracked for the next 30 days. If the results are positive, then the H2GO is expected to be installed in a number of regular FedEx vehicles.

In other news, Ronn Motors has retained the Potomac Strategic Development Group to lobby the Federal Government in Washington DC for grants and direct loans under President Obama’s stimulus package. Of particular interest is the money put aside by the Fed for development of green cars and leading edge energy technology.

But, that’s not all. In another month, representatives from Ronn Motors and Frigette Energy Systems will be traveling to China to demonstrate the H2GO technology to several Chinese automakers and automotive laboratories in Beijing. The total number of cars in China is expected to exceed those in the U. S. by 2020 and Chinese automobiles are the single biggest contributor to pollution in that country even outpacing coal fired power plants.

Whether or not you believe that the H2GO technology is viable, one thing is for certain. We will find out soon enough whether Ronn Motors’ putting their money where their mouth is will result in a belly full of cash or Ronn Maxwell eating crow. There isn’t much room in-between these two extremes.

First, Dateline brought the Honda to an EPA sanctioned testing facility to test for MPG’s and emissions. The EPA sanctioned test facility said the Accord was getting 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Then Dateline brought this car to a mechanic to have the HAFC device installed. The mechanic at first said the Accord was getting 96 mpg with just him driving, then said the car was getting 57.7 mpg with 3 other people in the car.

The Honda Accord was supposed to be tuned with the HAFC device and ready to go getting at least the 57.7 mpg. So, Dateline took this car back to the EPA sanctioned facility for testing with the HAFC device on it and the facility said the car was still getting 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

This is pretty compelling evidence, now isn’t it? Now, what I don’t want to do is to try to defend HAFC because I haven’t tried their product so I have no firsthand knowledge of whether it works or it doesn’t.

What I would like to talk, about however, is some of the assumptions that Dateline NBC made in their broadcast and let you decide for yourself whatever you want to decide.

The basic set of assumptions that Dateline made is that if the HAFC product did not work as advertised from this particular mechanic, then this must mean that all HAFC devices don’t work. If all HAFC devices don’t work, then the guy who owns the company Dennis Lee must be a scammer.

If Dennis Lee is a scammer, then the whole industry of hydrogen fuel injection and HHO generators must be fraudulent and filled with nothing but scammers.

So, what did Dateline actually prove? They proved that the mechanic who installed the HAFC device either did an incompetent job or was trying to scam them. Was this fair and balanced reporting. No, and it wasn’t meant to be. It was meant to take on a particular negative viewpoint and provide evidence to prove their case.

Dateline NBC is a respected and credible news agency. Chris Hansen is well regarded. He featured Mike Allen of Popular Mechanics, a long-time critic of this technology. Both Mike Allen and Popular Mechanics add credibility to this broadcast.

But to put aside reputation for a minute, let’s just talk about the logic of this argument. Notice that it is quite a leap in logic to say that one mechanic or one product represents the whole industry. This is like saying the guy at the corner shop is selling vacuum cleaners that don’t work as advertised so the whole industry must be a scam.

You can make up your own mind about the hydrogen fuel injection industry, the HAFC product and the mechanic who installed it for Dateline and draw your own conclusions as to whether there is a logical progression and connection. Just remember, Dateline tested one installation from one mechanic for one product.

They did not test multiple HAFC installations from different mechanics. They certainly did not install multiple hydrogen fuel injection products with multiple mechanics and test them at multiple EPA approved test facilities. The sample of their test was a sample of one. Like I said, though, draw your own conclusions.

The modified Linc Volt hybrid vehicle however, is expected to achieve over 100 mpg as part of the X-Prize requirements. Neil Young has partnered with Jonathan Goodwin’s H-Line Conversions and UQM Technologies for the Linc Volt conversion that can run on gasoline, CNG or biofuels. One of the unique aspects of this vehicle is that it also has an onboard hydrogen generator to increase mileage, no matter which primary fuel is being chosen.

According to Young, “The hydrogen generator produces gas out of water. It is displacing an unknown amount of fuel at this time and that’s one thing we’re going to figure out with VIPER. We’ve had estimates that it’s displacing up to 70 percent of fuel at this time, but we really don’t know. But we know we can get more out of it than were getting now.”

One of the ideas behind Neil Young’s Repower America promotion of this new technology is that consumers don’t have to be confined to small cars to get over 100 mpg. Enthusiasts of all kinds of cars including classic Americana can convert their vehicles and achieve increased mileage and lower emissions.

Mr. Young was at the Virginia International Raceway last week testing the Linc Volt and will continue to do so throughout April as well. Young is also producing a movie called “Linc Volt” based upon the experimentation, promotion and results of this car, which will be due out in the Fall of 2009.

Now, I’ve talked about the Ronn Scorpion many times in the past including the H2GO hydrogen on demand unit inside that electrolyzes water and feeds the resulting hydrogen through the intake to supplement and catalyze the gasoline in the cylinders.

Governor Schwarzenegger is of course the author of California’s Hydrogen Highway program, which over the past 6 years has spawned 26 public hydrogen refueling stations in the state, with a few being added each year.

In October 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger drove his modified H2H Hummer to the opening of California’s first public hydrogen fueling station at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Governor Schwarzenegger contacted the Scorpion’s CEO Ronn Maxwell about the hydrogen gas saving exotic car after reading an article in the high profile Men’s Journal which proclaimed the Scorpion to be “God’s Own Supercar.”

The Ronn Scorpion has supercar speed with 0 to 60 mph acceleration in under 4 seconds and a top end of over 200 mph. The mainly gasoline-powered and partially hydrogen-powered exotic car also gets around 40 mpg as well.

Ronn Maxwell drove the Scorpion upon the sidewalk leading up to the steps of the Capital building in Sacramento for a photo op with Governor Schwarzenegger. The Governor is enthusiastic about small boutique alternative car companies creating jobs and giving consumers options in the marketplace where the Big 3 automakers have yet to come up to speed in this area.

I wrote Governor Schwarzenegger last year to tell him about this emerging hydrogen gas saver technology and in specific the device being used inside the Ronn Scorpion. That could have helped place a bug in his ear when deciding to take the Scorpion out for a test drive recently.

With an endorsement from one of the largest names in the hydrogen car movement, Governor Schwarzenegger gives this emerging hydrogen on demand technology a shot of credibility today that will hopefully lead to cleaner air and less dependence upon foreign oil tomorrow.

And many thanks for Paul Faulstich of the Hydrogen Energy Center for alerting me to this important news event yesterday.

This is why I’ve taken a rather conservative approach to every Tom, Dick and HHO guy who comes along wanting me to promote their products. The ones that I think are worthy and legitimate I’ve listed on the hydrogen generators for cars page.

My usual spiel is to ask for third party verification of their claims. The usual response is that I never hear from these people again. But, now without asking or being approached I happened upon a company called GreenChek Technology, Inc. out of San Francisco, California and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They have actually posted their third party verification test results on their website of their Onboard Hydrogen Generation and Injection or OHGI device (this technology goes by about 10 different names all for the same thing).

The testing facility was a company called Clean Air Technologies International (CATI) out of Buffalo, New York. You can see the test results for yourself. Why I find this report to be believable are first, through limited research, I can find no complaints against CATI. Second, not all test results were squeaky clean positive.

During acceleration of the test vehicle, a 1991 Chevy Tracker with a 4 cylinder, 1.6L gasoline engine, the carbon monoxide level went up by 15.6-percent. On all the other tests of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and fuel consumption there was a percentage decrease. In fact, on all three tests, fuel consumption decreased between 8.2-percent (acceleration) and 45-percent (2000 RPM Average Mass Flow).

What this means is that even though there was a spike in CO emissions for this particular vehicle in this one particular phase of driving, the overall results were positive. GreenChek has also enlisted the services of CyberMesh Systems to help market their hydrogen generator to the owners of large trucks, buses and diesel trains.