I REFER to the current hype over new renewable energy source called hydrofuel. While I do not want to be seen as unpatriotic, I have to speak up since the Malaysian scientific community has suddenly become mute.

For a start, my current knowledge tells me that you cannot obtain hydrogen gas fast enough from water using a small gadget to power a vehicle. And the 50% saving in fuel seems too good to be true.

So far, the public have been treated with only the unsupported claims of the inventor and the anecdotal support from the taxi drivers.

Unfortunately, the inventor managed to get the presence of the PM and several other VIPs to endorse the product. These claims cannot replace the scientific evidence needed to verify the technology.

The inventor of the hydrofuel gadget should not sell his gadget before it is scientifically proven by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) or a university. He has nothing to fear if he has patented the technology.

With some of the TV channels supporting the sale of the hydrofuel gadget, MoSTI should step in to verify the claims made for the gadget.

About a decade ago, there was another fuel-saving gadget in the market. The magnetic gadget claimed to “realign the hydrogen molecules” so that it burns with better efficiency.

Whenever there is a crisis, there will always be someone who would take advantage of the situation and the public’s ignorance of a technical matter. However, MoSTI and the academics/scientists should speak up so that such claims will not burden the people.

 

Zahar
Kuala Lumpur

Source: The Sun – August 1, 2008