SPO Networks Inc (SPOI)

[Erasmus99]

Interesting

#1. The product showed inconsistency and the overall outcome of the numbers was a 5% savings on the test subjects. Though we were only to meet a 3.5% improvement overall, the management we were dealing with was not comfortable with the variations of the technology. Though the 5.4% was agreed upon as confirmed numbers, the number could have been higher. There are significant differences between the Wildcat and the Hy-Impact series. We spent six of the first weeks of the program figuring out new amperage settings for the particular size engine, thus having no positive gains for that time frame. Then on October 1, 2012, fuel industry wide changes over to what is known as winter blend. Our experience with the Wildcat prompted us to adjust the amperage settings down a considerable ½ amp. This proved to be a mistake and the adjustment was not necessary. So, if one were to take out the first 6 weeks of non-performance and then the unnecessary adjustment as of October, thus creating minimal results for the twelve weeks following, then our project numbers would have been considerably higher. Also, variations occurred, as we knew they would, with driver behavior, altitude, moisture content…variables that we have always known that would affect performance of the Hy-Impact units on OTR applications.
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I think that the thing that jumps out for me is that this thing does not self adjust at all. Perhaps this is what is taking all of this testing so long. They have to take 6 weeks to adjust for each change in requirements. I am sure that DOD is going to want to buy a million of these!