> H-powered Car?

Hydro-powered car technology may soon put Malaysia on the world map for automotive innovation when a local invention is approved by Sirim Berhad for safety and commercialisation.

The H-Fuel system, featuring a Brain Chip to control engine combustion and water, has been submitted to Sirim for tests and patent registration by EGR Tech Sdn Bhd.

Should the Road Transport Department approve the system based on Sirim’s findings, the government plans to make its use mandatory for commercial vehicles such as buses and lorries to save fossil fuel and lower engine emissions.

The system breaks down water into oxygen and hydrogen in a manner controlled by an engine control unit or Brain Chip.

The hydrogen is used for internal combustion and can cut down on car exhaust emissions.

The invention, it is claimed, can save millions of ringgit on petroleum-based fuel consumption for all types of engine applications.

Explaining the system, EGR Tech CEO K.B. Woo said: “The Brain Chip safely controls the extraction rate and distribution of hydrogen during its entire operation. This means a more precise and safer feed of the volatile gas into the combustion chambers compared with conventional systems of uncontrolled feed.

“Hydrogen is then fed into the combustion chambers thereby reducing the need for pure diesel or petrol to run the internal combustion engine. This ensures not only lower fuel consumption but also much cleaner exhaust emissions without sacrificing engine performance.”

An additional advantage of the H-Fuel system is that the engine also runs cleaner with high possibilities of reduced maintenance cost and longer engine life.

“The indirect benefit would be for people who enjoy a cleaner environment, cheaper transportation costs and products, and longer use of petroleum reserves,” added Woo.

EGR Tech technology director Lee Eng Khim said: “Hydrogen is three times more powerful than gasoline while the burn rate of hydrogen is 10 times faster than gasoline. That is why in its power stroke the fast burn rate will give  maximum kinetic energy.”

He said the current combustion energy is based on the fact that burn rate is slow and is due to the 30% kinetic energy and 70% heat. “That is why the car engine is hot,” he said.

“However, with hydrogen, it is a reverse effect where there is 70% kinetic energy and 30% heat. It is much cooler,” said Lee, adding that EGR Tech’s team of engineers have been perfecting the invention for more than a year with successful trials on local buses showing impressive improvements of at least 50% savings in fuel consumption.”

Woo said Sirim is expected to issue a certificate of fitness for mass production and use in motor vehicles by next month.

“Once the certification is issued, EGR Tech will market the system not only in Malaysia but within Asean and Taiwan,” Woo said, adding that Sirim will also test and certify the other applications that include industrial burners, marine and even aviation engines.

“Our first stage after certification and RTD approval is to aggressively go into buses and trucks. 

“This is because we see the need for logistic and transportation sectors to obtain a fuel-saving system,” he stressed.

“After that, we will move to smaller vehicles like fishing boats, ferries, tugboats and eventually planes and helicopters,” said Woo.

Sirim president and chief executive Yahaya Ahmad told theSun at the signing of a memorandum of understanding with EGR Tech on Friday: “Sirim will do the tests on whatever aspects and performance claimed by EGR Tech and validate whether all the claims are accurate.

“Sirim does not set the standard for the product’s performance but it confirms whether the product’s claims are true.” - theSun.