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.

A New Track

The VK under ice

Once more, spring is seemingly late in arrival and time spent testing and prepping the VK for the next event leaves one with a chill. So, what have we been doing, you might ask. We have been prepping the VK for an Eco Rally, the Green Grand Prix at Watkins Glen International road course. A Road Course!!!! We love these type of courses. It is literally like driving through the hills of Southern Indiana. The VK will be participating in the Doris Bovee Memorial Road Rally, which is an SCCA event. Watkins Glen is a great track with loads of history! This rally will be on the 2.45 mile road course, which is the same used by the NASCAR Sprint Cup series. It will be lots of fun.

The team has picked up some new sponsors. We look forward to unveiling the latest sponsors logos just before the race. Who are they??? Well, a hint would be one is an Indiana based business that is well known for sponsoring large things. The other is a relative unknown that we hope will be known after the Rally! We still have our first sponsor on board, XS Power. We are using their latest technology in the VK. The BITW Technologies team really appreciates the staff at XS Power! Diesel USA Group is also giving us great tech support. Thank you Roger Lighter and Staff. We are still wearing shirts from Blue Cotton, Thanks Mike.

We will post more data about the event up to when the rally starts!

Diesel Power magazine will be covering the event, watch their blog after April 15.

2010 What a year!

Well, the end of the year is upon us and it is time to ponder the outcome of the last 364 days.

BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!

I'm not very reflective, as I like to look to the future and NOT cry about where things did not go as planned. It is obvious that we did not win the 24th letter competition that we spent the past 2 1/2 years working on.

Coloring sheet compliments of the Saint Louis Science Center

We did learn a lot and have found that there are many smart people in the world that think like we do. Diesel powered vehicles are the most energy efficient vehicle one could drive. We found that the Mid Ohio Road Course is a fun place to drive. We plan to be at Watkins Glen in April for the Green Grand Prix, an SCCA sanctioned event. (greengrandprix.com) The Vincitore' 1000(VK) should be ready for the event. It will be a lot of fun to be on a track again.





The VK is currently being driven on a daily basis in ALL weather conditions. Kind of like the Mailman, neither snow, sleet or driving rain can keep the VK down.

Hope you all have a Great New Year!!!

The BITW Technologies Team!!

Diesel Power Magazine

George Voll makes some final adjustments before the economy run begins.

BITW Technologies Vincitore' 1000 was featured in Diesel Power magazine, again! They wrote a story on the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition and how the VK was the best fit to achieve the goals of the competition. The powertrain is approaching 30 K miles and keeps running strong in all types of terrains and temperatures! Diesel starts easier than E-85 below 60 degrees, which was very evident during the Shakedown part of the competition.

Prepping for Shakedown Economy run, April 2010.

The team was at Chelsea Proving Grounds in October to do coast down testing and then to Auburn Hills to get an emissions test. Testing went very well and we were amazed at how low the CO was. The car went over a mile in the coastdown, and did very well for a production chassis. We will have more about that one later!

Return to St. Louis Science Center

The BITW Technologies Team pushes the Vincitore' 1000 into the Center.

This past weekend the BITW Technologies Team got to display the Vincitore' 1000 at the St. Louis Science Center for a second time. It was a great day to be at the Center! The president of the X-Prize Foundation, Robert Weiss was visiting the Center to speak about the progress of the various X-Prize activities and competitions. He later came over to visit the BITW Technologies Team to see the car and ask a few questions. We pushed the VK through the front door with a few inches to spare. "Under the Hood" is a interactive hands on display of fuel technologies in that shows the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize entries. It was a very informative display.

Under the Hood Display, see the middle column!

Team members fielded many questions about the VK and Bio Diesel fuel from visitors. Some of the kids asked questions like, "is it real?", "How did you get in in here?" It was an enjoyable experience to explain to the younger visitors how it works and what it can do.

George answering questions about the VK.

Once again, the VK was driven, under it's own power, from Southern Indiana to St. Louis. After the event, George drove it to Michigan, fully loaded, to perform emissions testing at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds and at the Auburn Hills Test Facility.

We were very honored to be asked to come back to the Saint Louis Science Center and more so to be considered their "Home Team". BITW Technologies Team and their families, thank all of the staff and volunteers at the Saint Louis Science Center. You guys are great!!

Dan, Ethan and George with the VK.