FAQ

Internal Combustion Engine

Is the product readily available on the market today?

Yes.

How long has it been on the market?

Since September 2010.

Where can the product be purchased?

IHS Corporate offices are located in Aurora, Ontario. IHS has installation/service centers located in many areas across North America and in Europe and within the next 12 months expects to significantly expand its dealer network. Please visit the IHS website for dealer information www.innovativehydrogen.com

What is the price of the product?

The Product Cost is $17,995 CDN for a standard application. Installation costs are an extra cost and are $2,000 for a standard application. More complex installations are quoted based on the application once machinery is specified and site inspection performed. The Product is modular and may be scaled to suit the application.

What is the return on investment?

Conservatively, the ROI over the life of the product is about 1,000% (not factoring in any post-warranty replacement parts cost). The ROI is based solely on quantifiable benefits such as fuel and oil change cost reductions. The product has intangible benefits also, including lower emissions, particularly PM, which will result in a cleaner running engine thus reducing maintenance costs associated with engine wear and tear. Furthermore, lower PM emissions may extend DPF re-generation cycles and reduce EGR replacement costs.

At a fuel savings of 15% on an $8,000 monthly fuel bill, a customer would pay for the product through quantifiable benefits in about 11 Months; and if leased, the product would create a positive cash flow position of around $1,000 / month immediately. Note: Many users have shown fuel savings far greater than 15%. If actual fuel savings experienced were significantly greater than the 15%, ROI calculations would improve considerably. Generally speaking, the smaller the engine, the lighter the load, and the more controlled the driver equals superior results.

Are there any Heavy-Duty Equipment users currently using this product?

Yes, IHS currently has units on Heavy Good Vehicles, with a few hundred more to be installed over the next few months on Busses, Locomotives, Stationary Gen Sets and Marine Vessels.

List names and telephone numbers of customers that I may contact as references?

Please contact our office in Aurora for references by telephone (905-713-3500) or email info@innovativehydrogen.com

Do you have any other test results?

Yes. A 2-month test in 2005 using an early prototype was conducted by Clean Air Technologies and Wardrop Engineering. The test followed Environmental Technology Verification Protocols, a division of Environment Canada, and measured fuel and emission improvements on road second by second using a Portable Emission Measuring System. Results were significant and are summarized in the IHS CATI Report.

Does the product adversely affect engine emissions?

No. The product lowers emission levels because the introduction of hydrogen and oxygen gases into the air/fuel mixture improves the efficiency of combustion resulting in a more complete burn of the fuel, hence less unburned hydrocarbons.

What is the product’s useful service life?

10 Years.

Does the use of this product comply with all current Federal, State, Local environment regulations?

Yes.

Will using this product affect the life or warranty of the engine and/ or other components on my vehicle?

No. The product is simple, safe, non-intrusive, and does nothing but introduce small amounts of hydrogen and oxygen gas to the vehicle’s existing airflow to increase combustion efficiency. The gases are produced from sending electricity through an electrolytic cell, drawn off a vehicle’s alternator (22 amp draw). The gases are fed through a delivery line until introduced at the air intake where they are mixed with ambient air flow. The only vehicle contact consists of a small tap at the air intake and leads off both the alternator and battery.

Under the Magnuson Moss Warranty act, OEMs are prohibited from voiding warranty of an aftermarket product unless the aftermarket product is proven to contribute to the failure. While in practice OEMs may try to assign blame elsewhere to avoid liability, the product has yet, it its many years of prototyping, field testing, and sales, to show a negative impact any part of the engine or vehicle. In any case, IHS has a $5,000,000 liability insurance policy per unit to comfort prospective clients looking at worst case scenarios.

Transportation Specific

What is the cost per mile of this product on a transportation application?

Assuming a 10-year life cycle for the product and assuming a vehicle travels 120,000 miles / year, the cost per mile is about 1 cent.

What is the cost of installing this product or the hours to install?

Hours of installation varies depending on difficulty of install. Generally speaking, for a vehicle application the less room on the vehicle the more difficult the installation and the more time required. Standard installations should take between 4-6 hours. Prior to installation scheduling, IHS requests to perform a preinstallation inspection of the vehicles to ensure they are in reasonable working order (i.e. check alternator, batteries, exhaust system, etc…), and to determine mounting position of product. IHS Certified installersare the only authorized personnel to install at this time.

Is your product EPA Smartway Approved?

No, as a manufacturer we do not qualify to apply for Smartway approval. However, the company currently has a California Air Resource Board (CARB) Executive Order in Council (EO) and is working towards, other emission certifications through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as European Compliance Testing.

Have any of these customers been successful with your product?

Yes, almost all customers are showing significant results at the 10% savings or higher. The cause of units underperforming is almost always rooted to the unit not being filled with distilled water or in a few extreme cases drivers or maintenance staff shutting the unit down ‘fearing the use of hydrogen’.

Have you run an SAE/TMC TYPE II, III, or IV Fuel Economy test with this product?

Yes. The ‘Type II Test Procedure’ published by both the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) and the Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE) was used to perform these evaluations (RP-1102 and J1321 respectively). The longer 40-mile minimum run distance required in the SAE version was used to conform to both test procedures.

What type of road course was used?

The National Center for Asphalt Technology’s (NCAT) Pavement Test Track (see www.pavetrack.com for more details). The data was collected after 8,000 miles run time and again after 23,000 miles run time

What types of vehicles were used?

The test involved comparing the weighted fuel of 2 trucks outfitted with the product against 1 control truck. All trucks were class 8 tractors equipped with 14 L diesel engines.

What types of aerodynamic devices were used?

Both the test and control trucks were equipped the same way, aerodynamic devices included. Please review ‘Auburn Test Summary’ for a comprehensive list of what was measured and monitored so that the test truck fuel improvements could be isolated as the cause of the product.

At what vehicle speed was the test run?

45 to 48 miles / hour with the tractor in direct gear (1:1 ratio) with a demand wheel horsepower of 200 to 350 horsepower.

What was the vehicle’s GCW?

155,000 pounds. Note: all else equal, this test illustrates the product’s benefit in its worst light. The lighter the vehicle’s load the better the results. The product produces a finite amount of hydrogen and oxygen gas per minute. The harder the turbo works, the greater the airflow, and hence the more saturated the product’s gases become. 155,000 pounds is at the extreme heavy spectrum of load conditions faced by the typical long-haul class 8 tractor. More typical load conditions of 80,000 to 100,000 pounds have shown significantly better results.

Who administered the test?

The Program for Advanced Vehicle Evaluation (PAVE) at the University of Auburn, Alabama. Note: fuel improvement data was not significant at the 8,000 mile mark but was at the 23,000 mile mark. The product’s benefits improve over time, well past the 23,000 miles mark. In all likelihood, fuel improvements would have steadily climbed if the test continued. Unfortunately, the test parameters were set in an effort to balance product validation with budgetary concerns. The technical rationale behind what IHS calls the ‘purge cycle’ followed by steady increases in fuel improvement over time can be discussed with an IHS representative.

What kind of maintenance does this product require?

The only maintenance of the product is to ensure distilled water is added to the reservoir tank when empty, which occurs approximately once every 15,000 kms. IHS recommends timing the refill with the vehicle’s regular maintenance schedule so the vehicle driver is kept out of the equation.

Does the product or its use create any additional maintenance requirements or costs?

No. If anything, having a cleaner running engine will extend or eliminate certain scheduled maintenance. For example, a cleaner running engine may extend turbo life due to cleaner re-circulated air; and EGR Filters may not need replacement as often if at all.

What warranty is offered with this product?

A full-service warranty equal to 2 years or 200,000 miles, parts and labor is offered. The product is mainly comprised of various stainless steel and UHMW plastic parts, which should never fail. Of the electrical components, most are off the shelf and/or manufactured by military grade vendors. Extended warranties may also be purchased.

Are there any handling considerations regarding installation, operation, and/or disposal of this product?

Nothing beyond maintaining a minimum inventory of distilled water. The product does not have any other consumables. Note: IHS will perform the installation function and any unforeseen service requirements.

What is the total weight of the device?

With all 3 subassemblies fully charged the product has a combined total weight of 100 lbs.