Changing the way we think

“This is another one of the things we’re cutting edge on,” said Chris Walsh, director of operations for the Department of Public Works.

The on-demand hydrogen boosters were purchased from a company named Protium Fuel Systems back in May. Dan Lutz, fleet supervisor for the Department of Public Works, returned from Oklahoma on Friday with the three boosters, which will be tested in three city vehicles: a Department of Public Works pickup truck, a garbage truck and a police squad car.

Vehicles with a hydrogen booster usually get at least a 20 percent increase in miles per gallon, but most vehicles get an increase of 48-52 percent, said Lutz.

Six months ago, Lutz built his own hydrogen booster for his 2004 Dodge Ram truck after researching the idea on the Internet.

“At that time I wanted to see if this technology really worked,” he said.

It did. Lutz’s truck went from only 11.1 miles per gallon to 21.9 miles per gallon after the first 70-mile test trip.

“That’s nearly a 100 percent increase in fuel mileage,” Lutz said.

For only $200 and a little bit of elbow grease, Lutz is still seeing big returns on his investment six months later. If people put in the research and know what they are doing, “anyone can do what I did,” Lutz said.

For $900 each, the department purchased its own hydrogen boosters and is eager to test the boosters out on the three city vehicles. The department is always looking for ways to cut costs, especially in a time where costs are skyrocketing, Walsh said.

“If you don’t do that, what kind of public employee are you?” she asked.