Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the HHO system do?
- Who are our potential customers?
- What vehicles does this system work on?
- What does the system cost?
- How much water does the system need?
- Will the fuel cell run on tap water?
- Can I run my car on just water?
- How much water does the fuel cell need?
- Is this system dangerous under my bonnet?
- What quality are the parts used in this system?
- What is covered by the guarantee?
- What happens if I want the system removed?
- How much will I save?
- Is this proven technology?
- Will it affect my insurance or warranty?
- This breaks the laws of thermodynamics and therefore should not work.
- How does this system compare to hybrid vehicles?
- What if the system freezes in winter?
- Do I need to inform anyone else before or after the installation?
- Do I have to remember to turn off when not in use?
- What happens if I forget to top up the water reservoir?
- Hydrogen has a lot of myths attached to it. What is it?
What does the HHO system do?
It helps reduce emissions and improves fuel efficiency, thereby saving money.
Who are our potential customers?
Anyone who uses fuel or wants to do their bit for the environment.
What vehicles does this system work on?
Petrol and diesel engines including turbo, cars, vans, pick-ups, 4×4’s, motor homes, trucks, buses, boats, and generators, etc. It also works on stationary power plant.
What does the system cost?
£1500- £5000 depending on the engine size from 1.0 litre up to HGV or Bus.
- Taxi or normal saloon car up to 2000 cc engine = £1500 + VAT
- Engine from 2000 cc to 3000 cc = £2000 + VAT
- Engine from 3000 cc to 5000 cc = £2500 + VAT
- Truck and Bus = £5000
How much water does the system need?
The reservoir will need topping up every 300 miles only. 1 litre of water can produce 1800 litres of gas.
Will the fuel cell run on tap water?
Do not use tap water under any circumstance! Only use de-ionised or distilled water. 1 litre of de-ionised water produces 1800 litres of gas and costs about 80p. This means it does not need topping up very often.
Can I run my car on just water?
No, water is a zero energy substance. There’s been a lot of nonsense in the media and on the internet.
How much water does the fuel cell need?
Very small amounts, 1 litre of water can produce 1800 litres of gas. The reservoir will need topping up every 400 miles only.
Is this system dangerous under my bonnet?
No. Although hydrogen is a highly flammable gas, it is only produced when the ignition is switched on and it is fed into the engine and burned immediately (this technology is sometimes referred to as ‘Hydrogen on Demand’ for that reason). Even in the unfortunate case of a collision, there is no extra risk of explosion because there is no pressurised hydrogen tank to ignite.
What quality are the parts used in this system?
These units are of robust construction made to withstand the rigours of road use. We only use the best quality materials regardless of cost. We have the system fitted to our own vehicles. The system comes with a 24-month guarantee.
What is covered by the guarantee?
The guarantee covers the operation of the system and installation. This is conditional on two factors: that the system is serviced at 6 month intervals and that you use only distilled or de-ionised water.
What happens if I want the system removed?
We can do this for you and it only takes about 20 minutes to remove. If you want it moved to your new vehicle we can do this for you also.
How much will I save?
This is a difficult one as each vehicle is different and each person drives differently. Our experience is 10 – 20% improvement in fuel efficiency. We try not to make exaggerated claims so as not to disappoint our customers.
Is this proven technology?
The technology has been around for decades but only now that the price of fuel is escalating has it had the innovation and financial backing it needs to develop. The first patent application was lodged in 1914, while NASA and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) have carried out numerous controlled trials in recent years with positive outcomes.
Will it affect my insurance or warranty?
This is a fuel enhancement system and, because it is semi-permanent, is not considered to be a permanent modification (it’s classed as no different to putting a high octane fuel in the tank). Our system is classed as a NON-permanent fuel enhancement system. A permanent enhancement like a turbo would void a warranty. We do not modify the engine, only the fuel type. To date, we have not heard of any engine failures on vehicles running on hydrogen as a supplementary fuel. However, to be on the safe side, it is always better to clear this with your warranty or insurance provider.
This breaks the laws of thermodynamics and therefore should not work.
This is a misunderstanding of the process at work. The enrichment of the gasoline is not done through chemical or mechanical “doping” of the fuel, but with direct injection of hydrogen gas at the air intake in the vicinity of the inlet valve. In the typical combustion engine, the spark plug creates the ignition spark and the combustion begins 4° before TDC. The hydrogen enriched fuel has already entered the combustion chamber and the fuel-air ratio is very small (lean mixture) in order to achieve high efficiency. Just 2msec later, the hydrogen starts to ignite and because of the fact that it is under high temperature and pressure it starts to separate into atomic (nascent) hydrogen. Nascent hydrogen is very active and produces a rapid chain reaction that spreads almost instantly to the whole combustion chamber volume. The almost simultaneous ignition of hydrogen initiates the simultaneous ignition of the main fuel, which is burned instantly without creating any flame front since the whole combustion chamber is being ignited at the same time. The combustion process is now completed about 6-10msec later and after the piston has moved only 14-18° after TDC.
How does this system compare to hybrid vehicles?
Being green can be expensive, as any driver of a Toyota Prius can tell you. The car is a hybrid, combining a petrol engine with an electric motor that powers it at low speeds in the city and provides bursts of acceleration when needed. It is the most fuel-efficient car but very costly. One reason for the high price is that the car contains expensive batteries. Another is that the transmission system had to be completely redesigned. Theoretically we could convert the petrol side of this hybrid to run on this system but would need a shut-off valve for when it’s running on the batteries. In tests we can easily beat the fuel consumption of one of these vehicles, which makes our system even more the sensible choice.
What if the system freezes in winter?
Our system has been designed to operate in temperatures as low as -32C (-26F).
Do I need to inform anyone else before or after the installation?
UK vehicles only – You will have to inform the DVLA of a change of fuel type. It would now be classed as dual fuel. Please visit their website www.dvla.gov.uk for further information. Exactly the same as you would have to do for LPG. Your vehicle’s registration certificate would then read ‘dual fuel’ next to ‘fuel-type’. If your car was registered after 31st March 2001, you may be able to change your road tax band so you pay less road tax.
Do I have to remember to turn off when not in use?
No, the system is fitted with a safety device whereby the unit will not produce gas while the engine is not working.
What happens if I forget to top up the water reservoir?
While it is better not to let the reservoir get too low, when the water runs out, the system will automatically switch off and your car will continue to run on the default fuel.
Hydrogen has a lot of myths attached to it. What is it?
Chemical symbol H, Atomic number 1, Atomic weight 1.00794 Density 0.089g/ltr. at 0c and 1 atmosphere. Lightest and most abundant element in the universe, it makes up approx. 90% of the universe by weight. Colourless and odourless gas at 298K. Discovered in 1776 by Henry Cavendish an English scientist. Sir William Grove was the first person to produce Hydrogen by electrolysis he also invented the fuel cell in 1839. Hydrogen is neither more nor less intrinsically dangerous than any other gaseous fuel and there has been gas piped into houses for decades without any undue fears, there is also an increase in the amount of L.P.G. (liquid petroleum gas) and C.N.G. (compressed natural gas) vehicles on the road, paving the way for safe gas fuelled transport. Hydrogen has been and can be used safely if appropriate codes, standards, and guidelines are followed. Industry has produced, stored, transported, and used large amounts of hydrogen safely and routinely by following standard practices that have been established in the past 50 years. These practices can be emulated in non industrial uses of hydrogen to attain the same level of safety.