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InventHelp® Asks: Do Fuel-Saving Inventions Work?
While the idea of taking a Sunday Drive is as American as apple pie, these days it's gotten costly. We at InventHelp have looked for ways to reduce gas consumption by combining our trips, taking public transportation and even just relying on the old "shoe-leather express." With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, it's natural to want a miracle cure. There are quite a few inventions out there that claim to boost gas mileage, but are they worth the cost? In this summer of high fuel prices, InventHelp explores gas-saving gadgets.
Read more articles from the August 2008 issue of InventHelp's newsletter for inventors |
First, there's the Vortec Cyclone, which is designed to boost gas mileage by improving an engine's air flow. It works by swirling the wind around the car's air intake hose to create a finer air mixture that burns more effectively, said the product's manufacturer, the Automotive Research Laboratory LLC. Some users claim the device boosts mileage by up to six miles per gallon. The Automotive Research Laboratory offers a money-back guarantee on the product, and they say returns run only around five percent of sales. Overall sales of the $40 part have doubled this year.
However, the EPA is less enthusiastic. The EPA has tested hundreds of fuel savers, and says none makes a significant difference. Even in the ones that work a little, they say, the savings are not enough to justify the cost of the purchase.
If you notice that you seem to get less gas mileage than the window sticker of your car promised, there's always the chance that the blame can be placed squarely on your "lead foot." Most experts agree that slowing down and obeying the speed limit is a great way to reduce your fuel consumption since, obviously, driving fast burns more gas. In that case, changing your driving habits could be the way to keep a few extra bucks in your pocket.
An invention called the Digital Fuel Mizer may be a good choice for the speed demons on the road. This invention doesn't interfere with your car's engine – in fact, it doesn't go under the hood at all. Less a gas-booster and more a personal driving-school teacher, the device works by scolding drivers when they hit the gas or brakes too hard. If the driver slams on the pedal too hard, the Digital Fuel Mizer kicks into action. A row of red lights illuminates and the device lets out a warning beep, encouraging drivers to slow down. At about $60 with shipping, the device could be a good investment in the long haul. That is, if drivers are willing to change their lead-footed ways!
For now, at least, there's no magic gadget that will make a Hummer get 60 miles to the gallon. We at InventHelp certainly hope that new inventions for today's gas woes are in the works. Perhaps one of our "Invent Help" Newsletter readers even has a new idea brewing already! We believe that where there's a problem, there are always new solutions.
Back to August 2008 Newsletter
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