The high price of oil in America is not exclusively the result of free market forces. There is growing evidence of quiet collusion, involving oil companies, carmakers and our own government. They are delaying progress toward achieving energy independence by obstructing certain advanced technologies that could dramatically increase gas mileage. This article identifies just part of this complex problem. At the conclusion it shows what citizens can do now to assist in lowering energy costs, at least at the gas pump.
California recently requested the EPA to strengthen emission standards over the objections of the automakers, who claim that doing so is too difficult. Such a request would normally be honored, especially when the professional staff at EPA were in favor. But Stephen Johnson, EPA head, refused California’s request. This sparked a confrontation with the congress and even calls by the EPA staff for his resignation. See http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/26/epa-johnson-resign/
The automakers also objected to the recent energy bill that mandates a Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standard of 35 mpg by the year 2020. They claimed that being compelled to do so would cause financial injury to their companies. (CAFE is the mpg when averaging the various sizes and models of cars that a company manufactures.)
Dutchman Enterprises, a small private company, has developed two engine modification kits to be installed on cars in a few hours by specially trained mechanics. Both of these kits greatly increase mileage as well as greatly reduce emissions.
Their first kit, the Hydro Assist Fuel Cell (HAFC), is being sold now. It is reported to be averaging about 54 mpg on a variety of cars. This greatly exceeds the 35 mpg CAFE by 2020 as required by the congressional energy bill. If, today, a small company can exceed what the automakers claim is near impossible for them by 2020, one should question why this is so. There is evidence that the on-board computers of cars are programmed to limit mileage and not to maximize it. The HAFC kit is able to neutralize that programming problem and cars are suddenly getting huge increases in mileage.
Their second, and more advanced kit, the Pre Ignition Catalytic Converter (PICC), is our primary interest right now. It promises to get over 100 mpg on any car, even on an 8-cylinder SUV. Dynamometer testing on large engines indicates this is possible. This kit breaks down the fuel from complex molecules to a plasma of individual atoms that are the most efficient fuel for combustion and which produces virtually no emissions.
Both of these engine modification kits are described, together with videos, on www.picctv.com. The company, Dutchman Enterprises, displayed two cars with these two technologies at their booth at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) March 4-6, 2008. See www.americanrenewables.org. The conference was huge, with some 240 exhibiters plus energy ministers from over 80 countries. Their display was extremely popular, attracting great interest from individuals, business and foreign visitors.
An ad campaign in major U.S. magazines, that ran for just two months, produced tens of thousands of inquiries about the PICC kit which could be installed on millions of existing cars around the world, and eventually on trucks and buses. At an estimated price of about $4,000 for cars, the PICC offers greater fuel savings, faster public availability, no pollution, and far better value than any other alternative on the scene today. The company neither receives nor seeks government subsidies.
The urgency for a solution is great and the solution could be at hand - except for one major problem with the EPA. Following are two excerpts from a March 1, 2008 press release by Dutchman Enterprises, LLC (dutchman@gmail.com) the developer of the engine modification kits.
“We have actually modified engines to run “closed loop” with no exhaust, and we have run other engines so clean we can breath the exhaust from the engine. Yet we have been ignored by the EPA and other officials who have not been willing to even consider the impact we could have in reducing these emissions.” ... “Right now we cannot legally even test this technology on a public highway, because it is illegal in most states of the USA to install according to the anti-tampering laws. We MUST get it approved by the EPA as an acceptable replacement for the current catalytic converter.”
If the EPA approved the PICC there would be a flood of people wanting this engine modification. Both the HAFC and PICC engine modifications demonstrate that this small company has been able to achieve just what the automakers claim cannot be done.
IT’S TIME FOR PUBLIC ACTION! You can help to pressure the EPA to do its job using your phone, e-mail and copies of this message. It’s simple. You do not need to be a technical expert, or to endorse anything or do any explaining beyond demanding that the EPA do their job and test the PICC. ( For questions contact bert99@peoplepc.com.)
1. Circulate this entire message to everyone your know. Use your e-mail contacts.
2. Contact your two senators and your representative. The congressional switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 will connect you with the office of your elected official. Once connected, ask for their energy person. If they are not available, resist being shunted to their voice mail. Instead speak with the person who answered the phone telling them that the EPA is refusing to test a vehicle that can get 100 mpg and you have more information. Then leave your name and number for a call back. Be persistent. This matter is vital and urgent. You are their constituent and deserve a call back. After a call back just send them this article by e-mail or fax, and move on to contact another official.
3. Consider contacting your state representatives (a state government may be able to act when the EPA is failing), local and national media, environmental organizations and any other channels to reach the most people with copies of this message.
