Testing times for local fuel saver

Self-described "loose nut" Eric Otoka is tightening the screws on a Hamilton company's fuel savings hydrogen hybrid system.

Mr Otoka, a columnist for Times publication Motor Times, has had an OctaFuel fuel cell fitted to a 1300cc Toyota Echo, and over the next month he will test the maker's claim it can reduce fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent. He will be writing on the product test in his Loose Nut Motor Times column. The Times will also be giving readers regular updates on his testing via Tuesday's Eco Issues page.

Mr Otoka, who admitted he was sceptical about fuel savings systems, said he was keen to put the company's product to the test. He talliedthe Echo's fuel economy before the OctaFuel device was fitted this week and will compare its fuel efficiency over the next month.

"It's exciting to be testing this local technology. I'm interested in seeing the results," Mr Otoka said.

OctaFuel co-founder Michael Fresnel has spent nearly a decade working "on and off" on the system, and said he and OctaFuel general manager Shaun Mitchell were keen to see an independent robust test of the technology.

Mr Fresnel said he was "absolutely" confident the OctaFuel product would fulfil the firm's fuel efficiency claims during Mr Otoka's testing.

Mr Mitchell said the system worked by introducing a small amount of hydrogen into the car engine's combustion system. The hydrogen encourages a more even "flame spread" in the car's cylinders, and therefore means more of the fuel is used and less is wasted through the exhaust system.

Mr Fresnel said hydrogen also altered the "burn rate" of the fuel, allowing technicians to make the vehicle's air-fuel mix leaner. Put simply, because the hydrogen burned a higher percentage of the fuel entering the combustion chambers, less fuel was used.

Minor changes were needed to a car's computer system to ensure the OctaFuel system operated effectively.

An OctaFuel system had been fitted to Mr Mitchell's wife's 4.2l six-cylinder Jeep Cherokee. Without the OctaFuel system, it would travel 400km for every $150 worth of fuel. With the hydrogen system fitted, the mileage for the same volume of petrol was 520km.

The OctaFuel system fitted to the Echo Mr Otoka will be testing costs $3447 and needs servicing every three months.