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Culpeper man touts gas-saver
Culpeper man touts gas-saver
Hydrogen from water boosts mileage
By Skip Miller
Times-Democrat Staff Writer
Jerry Dossey is a curious, creative man who has been around automobiles most of his life. Originally from Prince Georges County, Md., he worked his way to Florida and back again as a car salesman. Some five years ago he went to work at Chrysler of Culpeper as sales manager.
And that's where this story begins.
Earlier this year, he began hearing more and more stories from folks who couldn't make ends meet.
People who couldn't afford the gas they would burn commuting to a better job. Or people who were getting by until the price of gas turned them upside down.
People who suddenly found themselves owing far more on a vehicle than it was worth. People who could no longer afford mortgage payments. People desperately looking for a way out.
One night, Dossey was talking to his wife and father about these people. That led to a conversation about the economy and the price of gas and everything else the average working guy faces. Like so many of those conversations do, this one ended in four words — “something should be done.”
Then he came across something that was destined to rock his world.
It was an article about the government's search for a way to transport compressed hydrogen safely.
Why, Dossey wondered, couldn't they transport water and extract the hydrogen when they got to where they were going? You know, H2O. Get rid of the 2O and what's left is hydrogen.
His curiosity took over.
While looking for a way to get the hydrogen out of water, he found other things. One of the things was a hydrogen cell. Another thing was the combustible engine, which is fed hydrocarbons.
The hydro, or hydrogen, is the ingredient that makes the controlled explosions that work the pistons. The pistons create the power that propels the vehicle. The carbon is either pushed out as exhaust or clings to the inner workings of the engine as performance-spoiling gunk.
“I found out that the technology to use water to provide engines with hydrogen has been around for years,” Dossey said. “Nobody bothered to do anything with it because gas was so cheap.”
Gas is no longer cheap.
Dossey has found a way to do something with it.
He has created a small unit that plugs into the engine's air intake. It sends hydrogen into the fuel mix where it powers the engine. The engine's sensors think the extra hydrogen means too much fuel is being used, and reduces the amount.
“When you improve the hydrogen inside the engine itself, it will burn off the carbon that has built up,” Dossey said. “Once the carbon is off, you're going to get better mileage automatically.
“So you're burning less fuel because of the hydrogen and you've burned off the carbon, which will give you more horsepower, better emissions, and better miles per gallon.”
As always, however, the proof is in the pudding.
Once his prototype was finished, Dossey was ready for a test.
He drove his Jeep south on U.S. 29, turned around and came back. He was getting 14 miles per gallon. He refilled his tank at the same gas station, and duplicated the trip.
“I did everything I could to make sure everything was the same,” he said. “The Jeep went from 14 miles per gallon to 20-some miles per gallon.”
He quit his job at Chrysler to devote himself full-time to his project.
He continued to tweak and fiddle until he had a unit that he could sell.
“You go on the Web, and there are a number of places where you can order plans,” he said. “I don't think this is about making money. I put the plans on the Web for free so people can go out and build their own.
“Or you can buy a unit from me and not have to worry about any mistakes.”
Why would you give away plans others are trying to sell?
Because Jerry Dossey believes the gas and energy crises are crippling what used to be the middle class.
“The guys at the top don't have to worry about the cost of gas,” he said. “Hundred dollars to fill the tank? No problem. Here you go.
“The guys like the day laborers who wait for somebody to hire them don't have to worry about the price of gas, either. They don't own a vehicle.
“They guy who has to worry is the one in the middle.”
The guy in the middle is the one with 2.5 kids. Chances are he drives a truck. His wife drives a sedan or an SUV. Both work.
“What happens if these people can no longer afford two vehicles?” Dossey asked. “They go back to one vehicle and become one-income families. They have to start making changes.”
Dossey readily admits his hydrogen cell works best on bigger vehicles, the minivans and SUVs and pickups. That's where the most drastic improvement in gas mileage will occur. Smaller, newer cars will show less of a gain.
“This is just a start,” he said. “I'm hoping people will come together and say 'let's figure this out for ourselves.' With this device, you're going to save yourself a ton of money.”
With the next device, people may no longer be head-over-heels dependent on gasoline?
Dossey smiled. Maybe it will reach that point, he agreed.
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