Hello Again!

After a hiatus, the blogging is continuing. What have we done lately? We have been accumulating Diesel engines for use in experimental projects. George continues to drive the VK to work as a daily driver. The powertrain has approximately 120,000 miles on it, which is the number we had to reach for the production models. We have been very busy, with everything else, jobs, family, life. So, we have not been spending every spare moment in the garage. Found this photo from the Knockout Phase of the competition.

The VK is front row, second from the right.

 
  We have put together another 1 Liter engine for the second car. We plan to install it in the old Red test mule, with a higher geared differential. Should get us better MPG and higher MPH. The engine has the torque, so we think it will do well. No competitions on the horizon. Maybe we will try one next year.

Vetter Challenge

Last Friday, July 20, we took the VK to the Mid-Ohio racetrack for the Vetter Challenge, which was during the AMA Vintage Days. It was a great event held during a great AMA gathering at a great venue.

 I am always excited to go to Mid-Ohio and get on the track, even if it is only one lap. We met Friday morning and prepared to take an 80 mile run. It was unique for u.s, as most of the vehicles were streamlined motorcycles. Last years event had our friend Jack McCormack with his Diesel sportscar,Max, as the lone 4 wheeled entrant. This year we were privileged to be invited. The criteria for the challenge is that the vehicle must be capable of going 70 miles per hour, into a 30 MPH headwind while efficiently and safely carrying 4 bags of groceries. Carol Vetter insured that the groceries fit within the competitors vehicles. We were nervous, but passed with room to spare. We had a lot of stuff in the trunk, such as extra toolboxes, chairs, fuel containers, wax and other items needed for a cross country trip. We made room in the back seat for the bags. After topping off the fuel tank and rigging the video cameras, we were ready to hit the track

We took the lap around Mid-Ohio and proceeded out to the open roads. About a third of the way into the run, one of the electric bikes was layed over in a curve.  Looked like he hit a wet spot and the rear tire broke loose. The rider was OK, bruised with a bit of road rash, it shows the value of using proper protective gear. When all was clear, we continued on the route, but had lost the main group.  We missed a turn and ended up 5 miles over after the end of the run. Keeping up with motorcycles burns fuel. They accelerate quicker and take hills better.

In the end, the top bike was the Hayes Diesel Airtech, at over 143.6 MPG @1.93 cents per mile. We got 57.6 MPG in this run. Looks like we have some work to do to get the numbers up again. Noticed a few mechanical problems that were repaired when we got home. Later found a leaky fuel return line.  That doesn't help with mileage either. For full results, see link below.

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/2012-Fuel-contests/2012-Vintage-Days-Challenge.html

We talked to some of the competitors. There were a lot of interesting people in the group. One common bond was a desire to get the most fuel efficiency possible from the vehicle.

We were very impressed with the bikes that shared our combustion cycle, the HDT motorcycles. Fred Hayes has been developing a Diesel motorcycle engine that is a purpose built motorcycle engine. It is not a modified automotive or industrial engine like the ones you may find in Europe or even in some bikes here. It is a very special engine that could revolutionize the motorcycle world. He designed them to be used in military motorcycles, per U.S. Navy specs. One fuel improves logistics and is a tactical advantage.

Fred Hayes is a very interesting man with a lot of great ideas.

Makes me want to get a motorcycle and start streamlining it!

No School Like the Old School!

1957 Heinkel 130 MPGa, Old School Technology.

The BITW Technologies Team recently went to Watkins Glen, New York, to compete in the Green Grand Prix. This year marks the first return to the track, after a 106.67 MPGa performance on the short course. Unfortunately, the VK did not do as well this time around. It was, however, an enjoyable event that is educational in many ways. We made a few modifications and did not get to test as much before the race as we would have liked to. That lesson was made plainly evident when the car was weighed after Fridays run on the track. The VK burned 13 pounds of fuel, which gave us a lower score than anticipated. A quick assessment was made and we determined that the injectors were running richer than we realized. The highest MPG recorded was 130 MPGa by a 1957 Heinkel. Old school tech wins out in this event. Our next event will be the Vetter Challenge at Mid Ohio Racetrack, July 20.

BITW Tech Team asking questions about the scale procedures.

Former X-Prize Competitor Jack Chen of Enginer

Next Event

Here is the latest press release for the Green Grand Prix to be held at Watkins Glen International Race Course. BITW Technologies plans to return to defend it's title as best in Diesel Class.

Toyota Green Grand Prix Returning to Legendary Watkins Glen International in 2012

(for release March 4, 2012)

WATKINS GLEN, NY – The Green Grand Prix, a showcase of motoring technology that aims for a cleaner environment, returns to the famed Watkins Glen International race course in April with Toyota as a first-time major sponsor.

The 2012 Toyota Green Grand Prix will present a two-stage road rally on Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, and a NYElectrathon race on April 21. Both days offer educational seminars and displays by appropriate manufacturers and vendors.

The Toyota Green Grand Prix is part of the season-opening weekend festivities at Watkins Glen International. No admission is charged for the Green Grand Prix, open to the public on both days.

Those interested in taking part in WGI’s Opening Day festivities on April 21 will need to pay $25 to take their vehicle on the track. WGI festivities continue on April 22.

The Toyota Green Grand Prix’s two-stage rally will have a stand-alone segment on each day, offering up challenges and excitement for pre-registered drivers of alternate-fueled vehicles, hybrids and traditional gasoline-powered and diesel-powered vehicles.

Individuals, colleges and universities, car clubs and manufacturers are all invited to participate.

The Electrathon race, primarily for high school teams, will be on Saturday. Part of the event will be educational technical talks by students from the teams.

The diversity of the activities over the two days emphasizes the breadth of the goals of the Toyota Green Grand Prix.

“The mission of the Toyota Green Grand Prix is educational, to promote innovation in sustainable transportation technologies,” said Bob Gillespie, chairman of the Green Grand Prix Corp., a non-profit organization. “We are proud that our event, in its eighth year, attracts students from universities, colleges and high schools. We want the Green Grand Prix to be a means of encouraging technology students to stay in the Northeast to help move our region to become a center for clean energy.”

The Toyota Green Grand Prix is again part of the season-opening weekend festivities at Watkins Glen International.

“It is a pleasure to host this outstanding event at The Glen for the second consecutive year,” WGI President Michael Printup said. “Hosting the Green Grand Prix is the best way to kick off our Opening Weekend and continue our strong commitment to environmentally green initiatives with our season-long recycling program.”

Friday’s segment of the Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rallies will be a 130-mile, fuel economy event completely on the 2.45-mile short course at WGI,which has hosted competitive racing events since 1957. The rally is open to all classes of road vehicles.

On Saturday, the rally moves to public roads for 140 miles and another fuel economy run.

Both segments will be conducted at highway speeds.

“This year’s rallies will offer competitors the opportunity to establish fuel economy records in various categories on a world famous racing venue and on the picturesque roads of the Finger Lakes ,” Gillespie said.

After they return to the track at the end of Saturday’s rally the vehicles will be on display in the WGI Tech Garage from 1-5 p.m.

Spectators will be able to view a wide variety of fuel-efficient vehicles powered by several different fuels including gasoline, biodiesel, hydrogen, propane and compressed natural gas. Many hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles are also expected.

The Doris Bovee Foundation is one of the Green Grand Prix’s key supporters, and the rallies are dubbed the Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rallies. The rallies are sponsored by the Glen Region Sports Car Club of America and are the only official SCCA road rallies of their kind in the nation.

Other important supporters of the event are Corning Enterprises of Corning, NY; the Auto Career Development Center of Worcester, MA; and the Central New York Clean Cities Coalition based in Baldwinsville , NY .

The rallies honor the memory of well-known area environmentalist Doris Bovee, who taught for many years in the Corning-Painted Post (NY) school district and was known for her love of plants and birds. She also was involved with SCCA road rallies and was part of the Glen Region SCCA at its inception.

The Electrathon race will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday on a course set up in an infield area of the track. The race is sanctioned and organized by NYElectrathon.

Single-seat electric vehicles built, maintained and driven by high school teams are powered by the battery equivalent of 1 hp. They race at speeds of about 30 mph. Last year’s Green Grand Prix Electrathon drew teams from 10 schools in New York and Canada .

Entries in the rallies are now being accepted through the Toyota Green Grand Prix website at www.greengrandprix.com. More information about the NYElectrathon event is available at the website www.nyelectrathon.com.

# # #

For digital photos from the 2011 Green Grand Prix and for more information, contact Robert Gillespie by e-mail at rgillesp@roadrunner.com or by telephone at (315) 694-2812.

End of a Busy Summer

Seasons change and so ends the summer of 2011. It began with BITW Technologies meeting US Senator Richard Lugar. We had a great discussion about energy Independence and how BITW Technologies is working to show the benefits of Diesel power and efficiency in automobiles. BITW Technologies was also represented in the One Gallon Challenge, held in Boston Mass. George Voll drove the VK from Indiana to Massachusetts to compete in the fuel economy rally. The route was approximately 100 miles and included rural and urban sections. The downtown city traffic of the Metropolitan Boston proved to be tough on the competitors. The goal was 100 MPG, yet the highest result was 88.88 MPG by the BITW Technologies team. Close behind where the Dirigo and Roopod.

As usual, the team has done a lot of testing, using various lubricants to evaluate which type yields highest MPG results.

Another Test!


More miles to go.

The team met with a 4H group in Corydon,IN to present the VK and talk about energy Independence and Diesel Power. This was a good opportunity to expose students to Bio Diesel and methods to acheive high efficiency in vehicles. The meeting was very enjoyable and many thoughtful questions were asked by both the 4H members and their parents.

Jack McCormack shows MAX to a Cub Scout Pack

The team had a special visitor in August, Jack McCormack and MAX. MAX is a special built two seat Diesel Powered sports car that Jack planned to enter into the Progressive Automotive X-Prize competition. Ultimately, Jack pulled out of the competition, but has since continued to improve max by rebuilding the body with more aerodynamic components, which have improved his efficiency into the 100MPG range. MAX is popular everywhere Jack takes it. This past week, George and Jack have driven to a Mother Earth News event in Pennsylvania to show the cars. During the trip, between Cincinnati and Columbus Ohio, the VK got 93 MPG and MAX got over 110 MPG, travelling at 45 MPH in a steady rain. Probably wasn't very comfortable for Jack, as MAX is an open roadster. We like what Jack has done with MAX which is more proof to show that Diesel Power can reduce fuel consumption and help America to become energy independent.

At the Mother Earth News conference

Sunday with Senator Lugar

This past Sunday afternoon, the members of the BITW Technologies team had a special opportunity. We had a meeting with U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. He wanted to talk to us about what we have done with the vehicle since the Progressive Automotive X-Prize. We were excited about the fact that a U.S. Senator wanted to meet with us. During the previous week we planned our meeting by putting together data from our past for a power point presentation and putting some ideas about how the Diesel Engine Technology can be a valuable component in a practical energy policy.

As of today, there is no domestic automobile manufacturer that is building Diesel cars. There are plenty Diesel trucks on the market, just no American made Diesel cars. Why is that? Government regulations make it too difficult for producers. That needs to change. VW Diesels are imported. They get 40 to 50 MPG. Diesel Engines are much cleaner than they were in the 70's. Why not adjust the EPA requirements to allow the US auto manufacturers into the Diesel game?

I will refrain from going on about the efficiency and power that Diesel engines are capable of. This is about our visit with Senator Lugar. He came after lunch and shook hands with the team members and talked with us about what we had done. We then sat down and Dan gave the power point presentation, briefing the Senator on our project and what we had done in the X-Prize and Green Grand Prix. Afterward, we talked about energy policy and why Diesel power is in danger of being removed from the American consumer. The current EPA regulations are causing engine manufacturers to drop small Diesel engines between 30 and 50 HP. That outcome will be disastrous for the power equipment and agriculture industries without reform.

Senator Lugar had a lot of good things to say about the project and that he was glad that he named BITW Technologies as a Lugar Energy Patriot back in Feb 2010.

The meeting was held at the Mister Hardware in Edwardsville that George manages. We want to thank Phil Gettlefinger for allowing us to meet there and for all of the help and support he has provided on the project.

100 plus MPG!!!

BITW TECHNOLOGIES Vincitore' 1000

The Green Grand Prix was a great event! We got to run the VK on the Watkins Glen International road course. We won our class( Diesel) and exceeded our MPG numbers to date,.. by a large margin. The number was 6.667 MPG above 100. That would be 106.667 MPGa. 100 MPG was the benchmark that we had been working to achieve, and we exceeded it! This was done on a racetrack with hills and hairpin turns with traffic! There were 45 entries that competed during the rally. There were also teams that had competed in the X Prize that were in the GGP. West Philly High School, Cornell University, and Enginer. The Dirigo car was also there. Many Diesel entries competed.

Diesel Competitors at Watkins Glen International

We found that the TSD format was challenging. It required a navigator to keep track of lap times and overall time to stay at the correct average speed for the rally. The navigator has a tough job keeping time and holding back a driver that wants to speed up. We will definitely do this at the next opportunity!

George meets Mr. Turtle

After the rally, everyone received a treat, literally! Mr. Turtle, from Demet's Candy Company, brought in the original Turtles candy. That made us forget about lunch for a while while the MPG's and scores were determined.

There was also a competition for high school students to build and race electric karts, the Electrathon. Some very nice and competitive karts ran in it.

Two Chevy Metro based cars won their respective classes. The car to the right was entered by Corning Community College. It is a 96 model with a 3 cylinder gasoline engine.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors! Their support helped make our goal possible! 100 MPG is achievable in a production type car. I mentioned in the last blog that there were two new sponsors. Here they are:

Lucas Oil and RenDiesel. Lucas Oil lubrication products were used in the VK to help improve efficiency. RenDiesel is a Synthetic Diesel producer. We are testing their product and used some during the GGP. We would like to also thank our other sponsors, XS Power (light weight battery), Blue Cotton (Team Uniforms), Diesel USA Group (Technical Support and other things) and the National BioDiesel Board for spreading the word!

BITW Technologies supports the research and development of alternative fuels sources for use in Diesel engines. BioDiesel and Synthetic Diesel are both fuels that have many benefits for improving the world we live in and securing a future of energy Independence for our children.