A California-based online research company stopped in Milwaukie Tuesday night to educate truckers, mechanics, educators, experimenters and others about converting their vehicle engines to run partially on water.
The company held the meeting in order to tell people about their do-it-yourself book that teaches people how to modify vehicle engines to run partly on hydrogen, by introducing the element to the engine through a process called electrolysis.
Electrolysis occurs when a small electric current is run through distilled water and an electrolyte, such as baking soda, which creates an environment within the liquid that can conduct electricity. Running the current causes water to change to hydrogen, a combustible gas.
Around 100 people attended Tuesday’s event at Milwaukie High School, hosted by local company Greentech Systems.
Rich Preston, who owns Greentech Systems, showcased his company’s products, which can be used to create an electrolyzer, the hydrogen generator Water4Gas’s e-book explains how to build.
“There are a lot of naysayers in the world. I like to see enough access to the common person,” Preston said.Thus far, Water4Gas has sold over 80,000 copies of their over-300-page online book, which contains all the information needed to install the system.
Preston also said his company will be working with local high school students next week in an effort to decrease future generations’ dependence on oil.
“We’re working with a project at Delphian School, a private institution in McMinnville,” he said. “The students will be taught the installation and see how it works.”
Preston also demonstrated a converted car, capable of going 60 mph, at the event.
Greentech Systems has installed about 30 systems in car and small V-8 truck engines in the past year, Preston said.
Ari Cohen, Water4Gas’ technical director, said about 20 percent of attendees at the event were mechanics, and most questions posed were technical.
“People remained until 11 p.m.–they will help us grow this movement,” Cohen said. “The turnout was unbelievable from word-of-mouth.”
Cohen, who is also an engineer, spoke at the event alongside company founder Ozzie Freedom. The Milwaukie event is the first stop on a nationwide tour ending at the HHO Games and Exposition, an event to support alternative fuel sources, in Tampa Bay, Fla.
The Water4Gas system is also good for vehicles with diesel, turbo diesel and vegetable oil, according to Water4Gas.com. A one-quart jar of water is enough for 900-1000 miles, the Web site states.
“This offers the common man a way to take matters into his own hands,” said Sean Thau, director of Water4Gas’s marketing efforts. “We are not taking on the oil or auto industries. We are believers in a better world.”
Truckers, in particular, have been hardest hit by fuel costs, said Thau, and installation of the system for a few hundred dollars can reduce fuel costs by 25-50 percent.
Although the e-book is designed for home installation, it also contains a list of professional installers. The electrolyzer can be built for under $20, Thau said, but could cost between $60-$200, depending on the components needed for the engine.
Although some online investigations have expressed skepticism over the validity of their products, Thau is confident that Water4Gas will continue to grow.
“All we’re saying is since you’re driving a car with a gas engine, here’s a way to create free energy and a cleaner planet,” he said.