“ Hello Council. As I asked in today’s council meeting question period, I am wondering if the municipality would be interested in improving fuel economy of gas and diesel vehicles in the municipal fleet through a very simple modification that adds hydrogen to the fuel combustion.
This improves fuel economy by a guaranteed 25% with highway driving, as well as greatly reducing pollutants in the exhaust and cleaning the engine as a result of the improved combustion. If the vehicles are leased, then there would likely need to be an agreement with the lessor, though the modification itself does not change the existing engine, but rather connects an electrolysis unit (that produces the hydrogen) to the engine combustion system through the vacuum system with a simple t-connector. The payback time is in the range of 15 000 km driving depending on fuel prices, engine size and existing efficiency. The lessor might very well want to accommodate the process in the view of future business.
Perhaps starting with one vehicle would allow for proof of concept without a major expense or commitment. Maybe a municipal employee or member of council would appreciate the savings and lowered carbon footprint and would volunteer their vehicle for a test. The installation is relatively simple, though varies from vehicle to vehicle. It would be well within the capacity of any professional mechanic, as most private people who install them are not mechanics.
For the $32 000 proposed as the first installment of a much greater and ongoing expense to engage in a lawsuit against the oil companies, the municipality could be saving approximately 25% on the gas expenses for approximately 32 non-heavy duty vehicles, not to mention the tailpipe emissions, long before any money was received from the oil companies- as unlikely as a significant compensation payout is. Another factor is that the consumer (the municipal government and North Cowichanites) or pension plan shareholders are those most likely to foot the bill of any lawsuit payout through higher gas prices and/or lower share dividends.
With the savings benefit, the municipality could even set up a program to facilitate the installation of more units for local people without the means to afford the upfront unit cost themselves. They could be placed on a payment plan based on the savings they are receiving which could be rolled back into the program to allow others to benefit as well in a positive self-perpetuating cycle. I haven’t seen another solution that would reduce carbon emissions by 25% as immediately or for as little cost. There would be no need for other levels of government to be involved to start saving or reducing pressure on natural systems.
Hydrogen is quite likely the best solution for the immediate future of vehicles and maybe energy production generally. I include a video from Toyota showing the hydrogen engine they are planning to release this decade, which will negate the need for the incredible resource use and pollution associated with lithium batteries currently used in electric vehicles. North Cowichan could jump to the front of the queue and set the standard for Canadian municipalities with a much smaller cost and very reasonable return on investment and transition to the new motors as they become available and cost-effective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIxT6rK02lk “
- By Steven Lay
