Fly or Why? The MagChargR
By Rick Reimundez
If you pick up any magazine that deals with cars, trucks, or motorcycles – particularly in the area of customization – you’ll find snake oil sales pitches throughout the mag. I’ve been checking out one in particular from a company called STWA, Inc. (which incidentally stands for Save The World Air, Inc.) called the MagChargR. They make some pretty big claims about significantly increased performance AND fuel efficiency AND reduced emissions. I don’t know about you, but my momma always told me if it’s sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Despite its cheesy company name, the MagChargR appears to be rooted in sound theoretical physics – at least according to a number of scientific journal articles published on their site. The idea is that through the use of a magnetic flux field — yeah, it’s not sounding any less “Back To The Future-ish” is it? – the spacer plate helps to better atomize the fuel coming into the carb, the technology also claims to lessen the surface tension of the fuel, resulting in cleaner, more efficient burn rates.
What I find most fascinating is that their new President/CEO is none other than former SEMA head Chuck Blum (he was President/CEO of SEMA from 1980 to 2002). Not to mention that their Vice President for Environmental Affairs is Erin Brochovich. Yes, THAT Erin Brochovich.
But what do you think? Great or BS? Let us know in comments.
MagChargR [Corporate Site]
Save The World Air, Inc. [Corporate Site]
Application Guide [MagChargR]
October 29th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
The claims made by STWA are bunk on the highest level. First, you need to correct your information. Erin Brokovich resigned as Vice President of Environmental Affairs shortly after a report released by the Rand Corporation was released. This report, the result of several years of test evalulations, and paid for by STWA, disclosed that the technology was essentially bogus. You can read the report here..
http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR313/
October 30th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Thanks for the link Peter. Sounds like the device’s magnetic field is attempting to lower the surface tension of fuel droplets in order to lower its viscosity, an effect conducive to reducing droplet sizes thereby improving atomization and creating a more complete burn. All this sounds good theoretically but the part I haven’t gotten past is the first assumption. It’s been over a decade since Physics 5C but how does a magnetic field affect surface tension in liquid droplets?
My understanding is that the valence electrons in iron (or cobalt or whatever the magnet is here) are lined up and polarized thereby attracting free electrons in another material. How do polarized valence electrons reduce surface tension?
Surface tension is caused by the liquid medium being in contact with the air around it. This tension forms due to a lack of like molecules at the liquid/air interface.
Without a good explanation for what at least seems to me to be voodoo physics, I’m calling shenanigans on this one.
November 10th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Bunk indeed, and Erin Brockovich is a world-class attention whore. Due to her tripe movie making her a household name, and the fact that she’s a tall, stacked blonde, corporations retain her to make themselves look like they care.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
What about this:
{ LOS ANGELES, CA, Aug 27, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) — Save The World Air, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ZERO) (”STWA”) today announced a distributorship and agreement with Magnumforce Race Car Fabrication, Inc. The agreement is for Magnumforce to offer select STWA products, including the MAGChargR(TM), under a private label.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to install the MAGChargR on my Dodge Magnum SRT8. But, what really blew me away was the 20 ft-lb of torque and 25 horsepower, as well as the 20% increase in fuel efficiency that I got. Given the way that I drive, I am sure that the fuel economy would have been much more for the average driver,” said Ron Jenkins, the CEO and the technical force behind Magnumforce. “After seeing those numbers, I was anxious to make MAGChargR part of my product line for late model Chrysler cars and trucks.”
“We are pleased with our new affiliation with such a great company like Magnumforce and Ron Jenkins. We look forward to offering our MAGChargR products to the consumer with one of the best known and respected names in the automotive performance, street and race parts and fabrication world. We believe that Ron Jenkins can lend a hand in assisting STWA products gain a wider acceptance in the mainstream automotive world,” said Chuck Blum, President and CEO of STWA. } www.stwa.com
And, look at the test results and the current board members. Check the web sites…I think you guys are wrong.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Its interesting to note that, while STWA released that announcement that Johnny posted in August of 2007. The company mentioned, Magnumforce Race Car Fabrication, has yet to offer the product for sale. Sounds like vaporware to me.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Seems to me that any add-on device or other hickie-me-do that genuinely affects fuel atomization or vaporization should require input/output hardware and performance software in the electronic engine control system in order for the damn thing to cooperate with the other engine systems, specifically the emission control system, and for reliable data collection. But golly-gee, if Erin Brockawich says it works, who am I to argue?
March 16th, 2008 at 1:19 am
I’m telling you guys…..I think they really have something here!!!
>>
March 16th, 2008 at 1:20 am
STWA, Inc. and Temple University Announce Results in Testing of Fuel Technology
March 12, 2008 12:00 PM EDT
MORGAN HILL, CA — (MARKET WIRE) — 03/12/08 — Save The World Air, Inc. (”STWA”) (OTCBB: ZERO) today announced significant test results in the development of applications relating to our electronic fuel product and crude oil treatment technology known as Elektra. STWA holds an exclusive worldwide license for the Elektra technology from Temple University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (”Temple”).
Dr. Rongjia Tao, Temple’s principal researcher of the Elektra technology, reported that in recent dynamometer testing of the technology applied on a used diesel automobile, performance improved 20%. Dr. Tao stated, “The test result also indicates that diesel vehicles will increase their fuel mileage quite significantly once they have our electric fuel device installed. If the road test is under the same ideal condition as our lab test, the fuel mileage should be increased by 20%. Of course, since road tests are usually not under ideal conditions, the actual fuel mileage increase may not be as high as 20%. However, we are confident that our electric fuel device will significantly improve the diesel engine efficiency and is applicable to other internal combustion engines as well.”
In other testing, our Elektra technology reduced the viscosity of many types of oil, including dirty motor oil and soybean oil, by roughly 30%. Dr. Tao noted, “Currently, manufacturers and processors heat oil to a high temperature in order to reduce its viscosity. In this way, the heating cost alone is reduced from $.12 to $.03 for production of one gallon bio-diesel. In some regions the cost of heating the production in the winter rises so high that some plants are shut down for 2-4 months a year. In addition to energy savings, manufacturers also can avoid un-wanted chemical reactions and corrosion, which can also occur at high temperature.” Dr. Tao has reported considerable interest in the application of this technology by oil producers who are now funding Temple for proof of concept projects in the lab and in the field.
Commenting on today’s announcement, STWA President and CEO Chuck Blum stated, “The results of Dr. Tao’s studies, along with our similar findings dealing specifically with the application of uniform electrical fields (Elektra) to crude oil, gasoline, diesel, ethanol and biodiesel fuel as well as other industrial processes, hold significant promise and benefit to consumers, manufacturers and oil producers alike. Save The World Air, Inc. has been actively engaged in the development of a variety of advanced applications based on this technology and continues to research products that may prove to significantly reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and increase performance.”
About Save The World Air, Inc.
Save The World Air, Inc. is currently engaged in the product development and initial sales and marketing of its products. which using proprietary technologies, can be installed on motor vehicles, motorcycles and stationary engines to reduce harmful emissions. The company’s ECOChargR(TM) and MAGChargR(TM) devices using these patented technologies have been proven in repeated independent laboratory testing to both reduce harmful emissions including Green House Gas (GHG) emissions normally caused by catalytic equipment while still improving fuel efficiency and enhancing overall engine performance. The company’s patent-pending CAT-MATE� devices have been proven to reduce harmful CO, NOx, and HC emissions caused by internal combustion engines in repeated independent laboratory testing. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.stwa.com.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
If MAGChargR and ECOChargr really work, then why is it with gas at over $4.00 per gallon, you can’t even buy these things anywhere? Not even at the distributors that are listed in the STWA site? And I’m not saying these places are sold out. They say they never carried them.
Sounds like a scam to me.