FTC debunks Hydro-Assist Fuel Cell, takes legal action
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Feb 10th 2009 at 9:02AM 
Don't you just hate it when the truth gets in the way of a great story? Some of biggest whoppers making the rounds these days involve the use of water for fuel. It's been said before and we'll say it again: claims of massive fuel mileage increases with these systems are false. Now, the Federal Trade Commission has gotten itself involved by taking legal action against Dutchman Enterprises LLC and United Community Services of America Inc., makers of the Hydro-Assist Fuel Cell. The company claims that its unit, which costs a little over a thousand dollars, is guaranteed to improve the fuel mileage of any gasoline-powered car by at least 50%. There's only one little problem. It won't.According to the FTC, using this device could actually result in net loss of energy. While there is technology out there that can generate electricity from hydrogen, this so-called fuel cell is not the same thing and its use will not result in any of the astonishing claims made by its creators.
[Source: The Press of Atlantic City]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Will 10:19AM (2/10/2009)
It's about time. People simply do not know enough to protect themselves from most of the scams out there. The people who market these scams know their intended customers far better than those seeking to educate. I get asked questions about products that violate the most basic laws of physics by my father all the time, and I have a hard time convincing him that just because someone has paid for a nice website and some pretty videos doesn't mean they are correct. I am literally a rocket scientist with extensive research experience, but my father weighs the laws of thermodynamics as if they were just my opinion. History shows that people will believe whatever sounds nice over whatever is right, and this fight to educate is always an uphill battle.
Reply
Brn 10:48AM (2/10/2009)
Prison sounds like a good idea to me.
Reply
mallthus 11:47AM (2/10/2009)
I actually watched a perfectly sane person with a long history of successfully building high performance engines fall victim to the claims of a scam like this one. As my father always pointed out, if these things really did what they said they did, the major manufacturers would be either buying or stealing their technologies. That they're not speaks volumes.
Reply
ccdoggy 12:28PM (2/10/2009)
THANK YOU for finally doing something about this.
Reply
DJ 1:33PM (2/10/2009)
How about actually doing something about anything labelled ‘Green’ or ‘Eco’ altogether
Reply
Snark 2:32PM (2/10/2009)
And Carnot spins just a little slower in his grave. Glad to see this tossed onto the same sh*theap as ether energy, the 100mpg carb, and astrology.
Reply
M 1:52AM (2/11/2009)
Thanks for linking to the site autoblog, the 'official' site is hilarious! I laughed out loud at much of it, especially the 'testimonials' from the mechanics: http://www.hafctechnology.com/
also be sure to read the FAQ for a good time
Reply
greengas100mpg 2:57AM (2/14/2009)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the results are in! THE F.T.C. LOST!!!
Send for the transcript in the NJ Federal court. It has been proven by the laws of todays science not the science of 50 years ago, that it is now possible to get the increases. There was a vehicle outside the courthouse waiting for the court to test that was getting over 100 MPG. The system is patented and as any intelligent person knows the patent office will not approve everything submitted; it must be viable if the patent office issues the numbers.
Check my website, part is posted there. http://www.preignitioncc.com/GreenGas/
I won't pretend to be able to go toe-to-toe with the know-it-alls on science, that was already finalized in the transcript in FTC court; I know it works and as the R & D continues all vehicles will benefit!
The difference between the HAFC system and others is the additional computer installed to tune the engine. If you do not teach the onboard computer to run more efficiently, by design, it will default back to its starting point with no gain.
Lets look at the facts of getting better fuel miles...the oil companys make less profit, the state and federal governments receive less tax revenue, the automobile manufacturers sell less engines due to less carbon build-up, less carbon into the air means better air quality (sorry Al). Your engine will last longer and you get better performance, you pay less at the pump and the U.S. gets off the foreign oil vice grip! Acording to the fuel cell insider this will create about 600,000 new jobs. Currently the ASE website cite 475,000 certified mechanics.
http://www.fuelcellinsider.org/2008/10/
Should an ASE emissions trained mechanic be looking to further their careers, I will help, if possible. Go to the website www.preignitioncc.com/GreenGas/ and review the mechanics section and request more information, the choice is yours to make.
Reply