Mirenco Readies For EconoCruise Proof of Concept 

DriverMax Gets Smarter as EconoCruise Concept Ready for Real World Test

Billie Shelton

”You have to tighten the old belt and manage your overhead carefully,” advises Dwayne Fosseen about what it takes to succeed with product development and commercialization. “Be very wise about where you invest your time and money.”

Fosseen knows from experience—lots of experience—what he’s talking about.

Since 1976 the Radcliffe man has been working on environmental issues and developing products to improve air quality and vehicle fuel consumption. Before that Fosseen invented and developed other products, most of them related to agriculture. In 1966 he invented his first product, an auxiliary fuel tank for farm tractors, and started into business as Fosseen Manufacturing. In 1969 Fosseen moved into his present business facility in his hometown.

In his office are numerous plaques from the U.S. Patent Office for agriculture-and energy-related technologies, along with an award from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Even though he has invented and developed what he says are “many different products” and holds numerous patents, Fosseen is most enthusiastic about Mirenco, Inc., a Iowa public company he formed in 1997 to distribute worldwide DriverMax, a vehicle throttle control, and his brand new product EconoCruise, which uses the Satellite navigation system to control vehicle fuel mileage and exhaust emission.

DriverMax units are being installed, tested, and sold to cities for use on their city buses in St. Louis, Louisville, Memphis, Chicago, and several other large cities with air quality problems, nationally and internationally. Mirenco management expects to expand ASAP sales to many more other types of vehicle applications that do a lot of stop and go driving, nationally and internationally.

The Iowa company recently signed a contract with Overland Custom Coach, Inc., it’s first bus manufacturer in Ontario, Canada, to install DriverMax units as standard equipment on all buses they manufacture.

While there are all types of devices, past and present, to control fuel consumption, “not one has addressed the human error factor of vehicle throttle positioning (that is) between wide open and idle,” notes Fosseen, “and now we can do that with our smart computer box.” A strong selling point is that the DriverMax unit can be installed on new or existing vehicles.

Fosseen has made use of government agencies and assistance programs on the state and national level to help develop his newest products to the marketing stage. “We applied and received several grants over the years and when the US Department of Energy became involved to perfect our electronics, Fosseen explains. “I knew we had an opportunity to market products that offer solutions to improve vehicle fuel mileage and air quality at an affordable cost. 

CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agency) is one such department set up by the U.S. Department of Energy to help small companies pass through what they call “enduring rough waters, navigating past many obstacles, and at a very fast pace.” According to Fosseen, many small start-up companies have been completely wiped out by the harsh world the Department of Energy refers to. “I was fortunate to be in a position to understand and receive Uncle Sam’s help at the right time.”

The U.S. Department of Energy CRADA grant program perfected Fosseen’s old electronic circuit into a smart DriverMax microprocessor,” he says. “I knew we had a tiger by the tail the first time we tested the new DriverMax unit on a city bus.”

The Strategic Marketing Services department at UNI assisted the Radcliffe business with a market study three years ago. Project manager Kent Hansen is convinced that DriverMax is a worthwhile product.

“It saves money and fuel,” he notes. “There’s no question it’s a sound concept, and it’s verifiable.”

One of the most wonderful things is they take older diesel vehicles and retrofit them with this new electronic equipment that further improves the vehicle emission of black smoke,” says Wayne Merrell of the Advanced Technology Center on the Ankeny campus of DMACC. He worked with Mirenco securing several state grants for development of their products.

“On one bus study a company reduced smoke over 30%, improved fuel mileage close to 10%, and cut vehicle wear by hundreds of dollars with DriverMax,” Merrell adds. “And it’s good public relations because black smoke is a real problem in cities.”

August 12th was a banner day for Mirenco, Inc., a Des Moines based TMC truck and trailer company, and the new EconoCruise.

For the first time in history the company officially programmed Interstate 35, second by second, from the Kansas City Department of Energy Plant to the Des Moines State capital building. Real-time information was stored on computer disc about fuel mileage and engine emissions every 100 foot using the worlds satellite navigation system (GPS) A new product called EconoCruise will be installed on and introduced by Mirenco, Inc., and an Iowa based TMC tractor-trailer. The truck will make what Fosseen terms “an historic journey”. 

The official Historic Journey between the Department of Energy Plant in Kansas City and the Des Moines State Capitol Building is expected to take place September 15th.

The journey by the TMC tractor-trailer will demonstrate for the first time in history it is possible to control fuel usage and vehicle exhaust emissions from satellite to computer to vehicle throttle and can operate anywhere in the world.

We also hope to awaken the corporate giants to the fact the good old American dream is still alive and well in Iowa. 

About Mirenco

Mirenco is a Radcliffe, Iowa-based Company that specializes in patented vehicle management technology and consultative services for reducing vehicle emissions, improving fuel economy and lengthening the service life of heavy-duty diesel vehicles.  More information is available at www.mirenco.com, or via e-mail at info@mirenco.com or by calling 800.423.9903.

Some of the statements made in this press release are forward-looking in nature.  Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements.  Additional information concerning Mirenco, Inc. can be found within Mirenco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of this additional information.

Contact Information:
Dwayne Fosseen
fosseen@mirenco.com
800-423-9903