Company Unveils Hydrogen Hybrid Supercar: Available Fall 2008
Well, here it is folks. A company has finally gone and built the controversial hydrogen hybrid system (or hydrogen injection, or Water4Gas or HHO system – choose your poison) into what appears to be a true production car. Not only that, the car looks, well, stunning… to put it mildly.
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Ronn Motors of Austin, Texas, yesterday unveiled what they’re calling “the key to a new generation of “green cars.” The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ronn Maxwell, had this to say about it:
“What we are revealing today is an innovation in the automotive industry and demonstrates American ingenuity at a time of real need. We’re designing and building cars with performance components and unique styling with the objective of making the new environmentally friendly vehicle stand out with never before seen style and approximately 40 mpg plus efficiency.”
I recently featured this type of hydrogen-on-demand hybrid system in a Gas 2.0 post about potential fuel saving scam devices. At the end of that post I had to say that the jury was still out on these types of systems. There was plenty of back and forth from folks who felt that hydrogen hybrids were scams and those that claimed they had installed the devices and they actually worked.
If Ronn Motors has truly built it into a production supercar, and it works, that would kind of put the kibosh on any naysayers out there now, wouldn’t it? Not only would the development and production of this car validate the functionality of hydrogen hybrids, it also could spur a broader public interest and recognition of the technology.
As of right now, it’s only a test car and some of the quotes from Ronn executives suggest they haven’t actually installed a hydrogen generator into the vehicle yet. But as the Hydrogen Cars & Vehicles blog puts it: “Move over Bugatti, Lamborghini and Saleen, the Ronn Motors Scorpion is a supercar that will scoot 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and achieve 40 mpg, too.” I mean, if it’s true, this appears to be an awesome development.
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Image credit: Ronn Motors
I read one comment regarding the waste of precious clean water. The electrical reaction to release HHO requires good conductivity. Distilled water is a poor conductor. The best is a mineral laden water, such as salt water, very hard water or baking soda and water. I’ve tried this in the lab with low DC current. Without adding minerals, there’s little or no reaction. When done properly, it generates a gas (probably hydrogen), that when ignited, gives off a high-pitched “pop”.
Very nice looking car….now, how about one that is practical and hauls kids! I have been watching vehicles for years with adoration. Everytime a new model comes out that gets great mileage, it is shortly there after discontinued with the newer replacement getting less yet. For instance, the little Ford Fiesta which got 34-36mpg respectively. It was replaced with the Festiva(I own one) which came in about 38-40mpg. It was replaced by the Aspire which attained 46-50mpg. Then the Focus came out, which in all embarassment sees 26-28mpg(my neighbor gets 21 in her new one. Now there are folks who have seen more or less mpg then these, but you see what I am saying. Every car manufacturer has had more then one that got terrific mileage over the years, then it was replaced by something much less then satisfactory in the mpg arena.
I became interested in saving gas some years ago and set out on a quest to maximize the mpg of my own vehciles through the conventional methods of tune-ups etc. Last year I heard of the “On-Demand” hydrogen systems and saw the “Water4gas” ideas. Great books, full of useful info, some good and some not so good. I make my own systems and installed it on my little 91′ Festiva. Wow, it went from 38mpg to 46mpg, with a noticable increase in power as well. I then installed a second one and attained 50mpg. I have stayed consistant in the 48-51mpg range for the past couple of months. Just last week, I added a “Condensator”. I just tested it two days ago and went 231 miles on 3.8 gallons. Doing the math, that is 60mpg.
We also have a 1996 Chevy 2500 Suburban 4×4 kid hauler with the Vortec 7.4L. It is a big, heavy, gas guzzlin’ work of art from Chevrolet(they should be ashamed to turn something out like that). Anyway, it comes in at an average of 8-9mpg. I added three of the Water4gas type devices in series, added one of the electrical devices they also recommend and have attained 16mpg., with a best of 16.2mpg. I just added one of the Condensators as well and we will see what it will go up to now.
I have personally installed nearly 60 systems the past several months for others and helped that many again for sure make their own. Diesels respond well with the simple Water4gas type systems with a few simple design modifications that I have come up with. Consequently, pre-97′ gasoline vehicles respond well for the most part, any older carburated ones respond impressively. The 1998 and newer gasoline vehicles I find require the help of a few electrical devices and some tuning. The factory computer system is more restrictive and only allows a slight variance in the sensors.
Every diesel vehicle I have done or assisted with has seen very good mpg gains, some better then others of course though usually 5-9mpg gains. The technology is out there folks. In 1982, I personally saw an older chevy vega that started on gasoline and once warmed up, the owner would switch it over to hydrogen that he made from water with a device under the hood of the vehicle. I wish I would have paid more attention to the older gentelman then, he shortly there after was visited by four oriental gentlemen dressed very nicely in suits and all carrying brief cases. An hour or so later, the four of them all left(with their briefcases) and so did the older man. I never saw him after that or his old water-car.
I am learning more about the Hydrogen On-Demand systems, and know this is where our future lies. My lawn mower will run on it next, then I will move to my little car. It sure is fun to experiment with and most enjoyable seeing folks’ faces when they come by with their fuel receipts in hand and their mileage written on them boasting reasonable mpg gains! Get involved Folks. I say it again, Get Involved.
The car manufacturers and Oil interests want you to remain dependant on them. They would have you believe the only way to use Hydrogen is to trade one shackle and chain at the gas pump for another one at the Hydrogen pump!
I will gladly respond to all of your questions as time allows. Build one of your own kits with your spouse or kids or buy one already made from someone. Install it and start saving now! I would like to hear your responses, comments, trials, attempts and curiousity. My family time is precious to me, so Please leave the negativity somewhere else. Nay-sayers need not respond or waste our time.
Thank you so very much for your time and efforts to bring us the currnet flow of info from the fuel economy efforts!
Mike O’Brien
BillandMike@water4octane.com
Nice article Mike. I just ordered a pre-assembled kit with the MAP resistor to use on my 4×4 Chev w/7.4l vortec. It uses both a MAF sensor and a MAP sensor. Do you know which circuit I should modify to get the best results? I think the MAF sensor may be frequency based but I haven’t gotten that far yet as I haven’t received all my parts yet. Any helpful info would be appreciated. Thanks,
Jason Ricketts
Riverdale, UT
i love this car i want it so bad but i will never be able to afford it!!! give me one as a trial and i will let you know how it rides!
I’m stuck on the hydrogen hybrid concept. There’s this guy in my neighborhood selling a device for $650. He installs it under your hood, it theoretically splits water, sends the gas(hydrogen & water) into the carborater and increases the fuel efficiency of any car. He claims that his truck is now getting 45 and a woman with an old Prius who was getting 35-40 now gets 70. I have heard that it takes more energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen than it will generate. So here’s my question: Would injecting steam into a carborator actually help mileage, or is this just a scam?
Thanks for sharing. It is useful for me.