Better Gas Mileage: Can New Technology Squeeze More Miles Per Gallon?

The quest for better gas mileage is a top priority for most Americans. Currently, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.97 per gallon. Experts predict gas prices will reach upwards of $6.00 or more by 2009. With skyrocketing gas prices, everyone who drives a fuel-powered vehicle is looking for ways to save money at the pump.

New technology and bio-fuels are emerging on the market, each proclaiming their product will provide better gas mileage. The next 12 to 24 months are certain to bring an influx of fuel-saving gadgets declaring fuel economy improvement. Many of these mileage enhancement devices have already hit the market. But, when products claim fuel savings of 20-percent or more, the phrase "Buyer Beware" has never been more imperative.

Environmental-friendly electric hybrid cars offer the promise of a cleaner future. Invest in a battery-operated hybrid at the tune of around $22,000 and you can receive a gold medallion letting everyone know you're a recovering gas-guzzling addict. However, the truth of the matter is hybrids are light years away from being a viable alternative energy source.

Think about this...Inventors have been attempting to develop battery operated cars for more than 150 years. The first electric car, developed by Scottish inventor, Robert Anderson in 1832 was powered by non-rechargeable cells. Seventeen years later, French physicist Gaston Planté invented the rechargeable lead-acid storage battery. It took another 22 years before Camille Faure was able to discover how to use the storage battery to supply current and invent a lead-acid battery which could be used in automobiles.

By 1900, approximately 28 percent of the 4,192 cars produced in the United States were powered by electricity. Back in the day, electric cars were considered modern marvels and the wave of the future. That is until Henry Ford introduced the gasoline-powered Model T in 1908. Four years later, Charles Kettering invented the electric automobile starter, which eventually led to the demise of the electric automobile.

One hundred years later, automobile manufacturers have yet to perfect a car that can take you from point A to point B without some form of fuel. Hybrids still require gasoline; albeit considerable less than the average gas-powered automobile.

Although electric hybrid vehicles offer better gas mileage, the cost of replacement batteries is approximately $6000 or more. The lifespan of hybrid automobile batteries is basically the same as a gas-engine vehicle battery, which could be four years or less. Factor this into the cost of the hybrid and you can quickly eat up your fuel-saving profits.

Hydrogen powered cars can significantly decrease gas consumption and offer long-term benefits, if you can afford them. Hydrogen systems cost several thousand dollars to install. They run on distilled water, which is typically not available at gas stations. Although fuel economy is drastically improved, most consumers cannot afford to install hydrogen systems on their automobiles.

Perhaps the most talked about fuel alternative is ethanol. While many Americans believe ethanol is the answer to our fuel crisis, nothing could be further from the truth. First of all, ethanol is hard to obtain. The production of ethanol has driven the cost of corn-based products to record-high prices. Worse yet, ethanol actually requires more fuel to generate the same amount of power and speed.

Gasoline-powered vehicles require an air to fuel ratio of 12 to 1, while ethanol requires a ratio of 8 to 1. In actuality, you would burn 30-percent more ethanol fuel, while paying the same price at the pump. Additionally, farmers are growing corn to burn as ethanol fuel, which in turn is contributing to the world food crisis. Henry Ford's Model T ran on Ethanol fuel, so while the marketing gurus would like you to believe ethanol is the latest, greatest technology, it's been a viable fuel source for nearly a century.

If you don't want to invest in an expensive (and oftentimes ugly) electric hybrid, carry bottles of distilled water in your car, spend a fortune on converting your vehicle to hydrogen power or contribute to world hunger, what options are left?

One tried and true product that actually delivers on its promise is SCT's Economizer tuner. This fuel-saving device is extremely cost effective and a better alternative than electric power, hydrogen or ethanol options.

The SCT Economizer is available to consumers now. It integrates seamlessly into most vehicles and installs in less than 10 minutes. Better yet, you'll experience improved fuel economy by up to 10 percent; perhaps more if you change your driving habits and keep your tires properly inflated.

SCT's Economizer modifies fuel, spark, timing and other MAP's or tables and optimizes the burning of engine fuel while maximizing power output. Additionally, the Economizer modifies transmission function to reduce lag between shifts to keep the engine in optimal operating range, thereby maximizing fuel economy.

According to the SCT, LLC website, the average consumer can save $500 to $1000 per year on fuel costs on a full-size car or truck. Owners of diesel trucks report improvements of more than 4 miles per gallon, which is a fuel savings of approximately 20-percent.

SCT, LLC has been providing fuel-economy devices since 1996. They specialize in gas-saving devices for most American-made gas and diesel cars and trucks. SCT, LLC has an impressive client list consisting of the U.S. Coast Guard, various municipalities in North America and foreign governments. You don't have to wait for gasoline prices to escalate to $6 per gallon or more. SCT has documented hundreds, if not thousands of consumer records throughout the world which prove fuel economy gains, far surpassing that of most other alternative fuels.

SCT's Economizer has only recently been launched to the general public. Experts predict by 2009, SCT Economizer will be a household name and consumers who own it will be laughing all the way past the pump. This is a proven product with promise to create a cleaner environment by reducing greenhouse gases and toxic emissions.

SCT's Economizer fuel-saving device is sold through reputable dealers across North America, Canada, Europe and South Africa. Visit their website to determine your fuel savings and locate a dealer in your area. In 10 minutes or less, you could be experiencing better gas mileage and contributing to a cleaner environment. What could be better than that?