SPO Networks Inc (SPOI)

[Bobinsd]

Here is another response to an email I sent to several EPA regional directors. It neither confirms nor denies the efficacy of the Highline HH product, and even shows some confusion re: it's specific function. However, the general statement and tone are interesting...have at it...

Hello Mr. R,
Thank you for your email. I am not familiar with Highline Technology or their "Wildcat" series. From reading over their website, http://www.highlineinnovations.com/, I'm not entirely sure what their product does. It is unclear if a hydrogen tank is carried onboard the vehicle and the hydrogen gas is injected into the engine. EPA can't be sure if is a fuel additive or an after market device or something else entirely.

First, I wanted to draw your attention to our website "Devices and Additives to Improve Fuel Economy and Reduce Pollution - Do They Really Work"
(http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/420f11036.htm). I highly encourage you to read through this information before purchasing any fuel or device for your vehicle.

Please see especially :

Popular Devices and Their Effects on Fuel Economy and Automotive Emissions

Devices That Turn Water Into Fuel
There are many advertisements about using the energy from your car’s battery to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gas which is then burned with your fuel. EPA has received no credible and complete data showing a positive fuel economy benefit from these devices.
Installation instructions for some of these devices call for adjustments that EPA would consider to be tampering. The Clean Air Act prohibits tampering with your car’s emissions control system. Tampering violations are punishable by significant fines (EPA, Office of Enforcement www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/civil/caa/mobile/vehicleengine-penalty-policy.pdf (PDF) (33 pp, 1.4M, January 16, 2009). Any instructions that request you adjust the air/fuel ratio on your vehicle, or adjust a knob and listen for the engine to misfire, referred to as feeling vibrations or stuttering, are in violation of the prohibition against tampering.


Fuel Additives:
EPA does require fuel additives to be ‘registered’ but EPA does not test candidate products for engine efficiency, emissions benefits, or safety as part of the registration process. To register an additive, manufacturers must report the chemical composition along with certain technical, marketing, and health effects information. In some cases the manufacturer may be required to conduct testing or literature research to assess potential emissions health effects. The EPA registration process does not include a check of manufacturer product efficacy claims. In other words, EPA does not determine whether or not the fuel additive works as advertised. Registration does not represent EPA endorsement of the product.

EPA did complete some tests on some devices and fuel additives and those results can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/reports.htm


After Market Devices:

Please find on our website, (http://epa.gov/cleandiesel/verification/verif-list.htm#retrofit) a table that lists the diesel retrofit technologies that EPA has approved for use in engine retrofit programs. Neither Highline nor Wildcat, nor any technology claiming the use of "Hydrogen Gas Injection" can be found on this list.

Before this product could be sold and installed on vehicles in the United States, the product would need to be verified. The process for verification is also laid out on our website (http://epa.gov/cleandiesel/verification/)

In addition, such Aftermarket Retrofit Devices fall under the guidelines of Memo 1A (section B, Interim Policy) for avoiding tampering violations of the Clean Air Act. Memo 1A can be found here (link, or http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/fuels/cff/memo-1a.txt)


If you have any additional questions, please let me know.

Rebecca

Rebecca Russo
Mobile Sources Program Manager
EPA Region 8
[phone]


----- Forwarded by Rebecca Russo/R8/USEPA/US on 07/30/2012 10:05 AM -----
----- Forwarded by Marisa Mcphilliamy/R8/USEPA/US on 07/23/2012 07:41 AM -----

From: <br1.net>
To: Marisa Mcphilliamy/R8/USEPA/US@EPA
Date: 07/22/2012 02:39 PM
Subject: Highline Technology

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dear Ms. McPhilliamy,

Are you familiar with the company Highline Technology Innovation in Arkansas? They are promoting their “Wildcat” series of hydrogen gas injection into the intake manifold of diesel engine, claiming that it improves mileage/efficiency as well as reducing pollution.
Hasn’t this “science” been debunked in the past, or are you aware of the success that this company is claiming.
Thanks in advance for you response.
Sincerely,
Bob
San Diego CA