This week we took a big step to achieving our mission of helping transportation fleets reduce fuel consumption when we closed a round of funding with private investors and Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology.  (Read the press release here.)  This is exciting, partially because it represents external validation of the promise of our technology, but far more importantly because it allows us to "fleet validate" the Ranger Fuel Efficiency system.

Fleet validation is about measurement -- we believe it is imperative to demonstrate the effectiveness so we are well-prepared to back up any performance claims we make.  We have chosen several fleet partners to work with, and the process will be the same for each: capture baseline fuel economy performance for a period of at least 30 days, then install the Ranger system, and continue to monitor performance for another 30-60 days.  

Our commitment is full transparency at all times regarding the performance of our products -- to customers and to prospective customers.  We will share results as they become available (taking appropriate measures to product the identities of our partners of course) - and if you are a fleet owner, we look forward to working with you down the road.

This week, the EPA and NHTSA announced the most ambitious fuel and environmental regulations that the trucking industry has ever seen.  (Click here for details.)  

Trucking industry regulations have historically focused on emissions, with the result being improved emissions at the expense of fuel economy.  According to the Department of Transportation Energy Data Book, large "combination" trucks averaged 5.1 MPG in 2007 -- worse than the fuel economy experienced 25 years earlier (5.2 MPG in 1982), and a full 1 MPG worse than in 1997 and 1998 (6.1 MPG).  

The obvious conclusion: in order to clean emissions, the industry has been burning more fuel.

This week's announcement is consequential for two reasons: 

1. For the first time ever, regulations demand simultaneous improvements in fuel economy and emissions.  This will assure that we don't repeat history, and focus equally on reducing fuel consumption and emissions. 
   
2. The level of improvement demanded by the new rules is very significant.  Large diesel trucks must improve fuel economy and emissions by 20% by 2018 (with phase-in beginning in 2014).  To put that into perspective, the trucking industry currently uses about 37 billion gallons of fuel annually -- a 20% improvement (the long-term effect of this regulation) would be a savings of 7.4 Billion gallons per year! 

This regulation should stimulate a whole new level of creativity on the part of the trucking industry.  While trucking industry experts have worked with EPA and NHTSA to shape this new regulation, and most publicly support it, there is not a clear path to compliance.  Typical fuel economy measures (improvements in aerodynamics, tires, engine modifications, anti-idling measures) show some promise, but even when putting all of them together, a 20% improvement is not obviously achievable.

We believe that the Marz Ranger Fuel Efficiency System will be an important part of the solution.  Early returns from our testing suggest that large gains in fuel economy are possible using diesel-enhanced combustion, and it does not require engine re-design to implement (which means it could be quickly adopted).  In the meantime, we will soon begin offering our PEM electrolyzer to existing fleets, so the trucking industry can begin saving fuel and reducing emissions....without having to spend on buying all-new equipment.

Welcome to Marz Industries' website.  We are excited that you have found us, and if your are a fleet owner, we look forward to working with you.  

At Marz, our mission is to achieve significant and cost-effective reduction of fuel consumption and harmful emissions for the transportation industry. Our patented electrolyzer feeds hydrogen and oxygen into the combustion chamber of your engine, which increases the flame speed and results in a more complete combustion of the diesel fuel -- resulting in more energy derived from a given quantity of fuel.  

The potential for hydrogen-enhanced combustion has been known for a long time (see the NASA study from 1977).  The challenge has always been delivering the hydrogen to the engine in a practical way.  Some electrolyzers have appeared on the market recently, but virtually all use electrolytic solutions that can cause harm to the engine and the environment.  

The Marz Electrolyzer combines the most sophisticated new materials with a patented design that eliminates the need for harmful electrolytes.  You literally just add water.  And because no materials are consumed during the electrolysis process, the Marz Electrolyzer requires only simple routine maintenance (add water and change filters periodically), and may outlast your truck!

If this sounds interesting, let us learn more about your fleet.  Click this link to contact us and set up a test!