Green Star Products' SuperCar Achieves 99 MPG at 45 MPH!'

FONTANA - There was nothing outwardly distinguishing about the two-door 1994 Geo Metro doing 45 mph laps around the California Speedway Monday.

Nothing about it to note except the car achieved an amazing 98.96 miles per gallon.

"This is startling," said Gerald Meyers, former chairman and chief executive officer of American Motor Corp., when told about Monday's event.

Now a professor of organizational behavior at the University of Michigan, Meyers said that the effort was likely a "best-ball design," where a group of engineers has put together all the fuel-efficient options into one light vehicle.

But that's not what San Diego-based Green Star Products Inc., formerly BAT International Inc., did.

They used 8-year-old engine technology in a three-cylinder Kabota engine. The boxy Geo Metro design is anything but aerodynamic.

The fuel efficiency improvements were the result of Green Star's Spiro exhaust device, its TVT anti-friction metal treatment lubricants, its high efficiency biodiesel fuel, plus a fuel additive made by an unrelated company, said Joe La Stella, Green Star president.

By achieving nearly 99 mpg fuel consumption, La Stella who drove the Geo Metro to Fontana from the company's developmental facility in Adelanto, believes his company eclipsed the world record of the Audi A2, which is sold in Europe but not in the United States.

With the latest engine technology and an aerodynamic body, the Audi A2 last year achieved an average of 95 miles per gallon going 42 miles per hour, La Stella said.

With older technology and going slightly faster, the Green Star Products beat the Audi by about 5 percent, La Stella said.

The original purpose of the run was to complete testing of the vehicle Green Star was planning to send to the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2002, held in both Germany and France.

Last minute problems with the transmission forced the substitution of a turbocharged, intercooled 1998 Geo Metro Hatchback with the backup vehicle.

An additional set of runs is planned with the 1998 Geo Metro once it is repaired. A final decision about participation in the European event will be made after the performance tests in the next two weeks and after considering other scheduling issues, company officials said.

Fuel efficiency of the 20 percent biodiesel/diesel mixture was enhanced by the additive "Viscon," which is the chemical polyisobutylene.

Viscon, developed by West Virginia-based GTA, is under going testing that will allow it to be sold in California, said Mike Anfinson, a partner in Bakersfield-based Las Palmas Oil Co.

Las Palmas and GTA have formed a joint venture to manufacture and distribute Viscon in California, once that is allowed. A sister company of Green Star made the diesel bio-fuel from soybeans in the Adelanto facility.

A Green Star affiliate developed the Spiro Exhaust System, which improves the efficiency of diesel engines by between 4 percent and 10 percent.

Green Star's TVT anti-friction metal treatment lubricants increase efficiency by about 3 percent to 8 percent, La Stella said.

Contact writer Jim Steinberg at (909) 386-3925 or via e-mail at jim.steinberg@sbsun.com

Green Star Products (GSPI) is undergoing several fuel efficiency technology demonstrations like the California Speedway tests in an effort to showcase new fuel efficiency and clean air technologies and to highlight various political and environmental initiatives occurring at state, federal and international levels. In California, recent passage of legislation that will require reductions in CO(2) highlight the role vehicle, lubricant and fuel technologies can play in reducing CO(2) and dependency on foreign oil (see press release 7/23/02). At a federal level, Green Star Products is currently circulating a petition that provides an opportunity for individuals to show their support for provisions in the 2002 Energy Bill relating to biodiesel tax incentives, renewable fuel standards, and fuel labeling (if you would like to sign the petition or write your own letter go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/598358311 hosted by Care2.com). At the international level an action plan of the World Summit now taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa attended by delegates from up to 200 nations on Sustainable Development calls for the increased use of renewable technologies (15% of the World's total energy use by 2010). The US and oil states are seeking to set no goals and the Bush Administration has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, even though the vast majority of Americans are concerned about climate change and want a cleaner environment. The Bush Administration is seeking to erase specific international targets for clean air and renewable energy at the same time that technology is quickly moving forward that allows the US to reach these goals and save consumers from fuel price inflation and fuel supply problems. GSPI's demonstrations are timed to show the world that cost-effective technology exists to allow cars to go 100 miles per gallon without requiring major changes in fuels or infrastructure. The alliance of technology and people's interest in solving energy and environmental problems can be an important catalyst to change the future course of the planet. GSPI hopes these demonstrations can galvanize the public to take action.

Additional information about the test run can be found in GSPI's 8/20/2002 press release. For more information about Green Star Products, Inc. visit GSPI's Web site http://www.baat.com or contact Joseph LaStella, 619/409-8977, fax 619/409-9598 or e-mail info@baat.com.