Bus Fleet Overhaul Cuts Air Pollution 

Technology saves C.R. fuel costs November 21, 2000
By Pam Hinman Gazette Staff Writer Cedar Rapids, Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS Iowa bred technology is helping Cedar Rapid city buses rise to California standards, creating less pollution and saving money.

After 13 years of working with the Radcliffe-based Mirenco company, the city’s bus fleet meets California’s stringent emission standards. And with the help of Mirenco’s HydroFire and DriverMax technologies, the city is saving $45,000 in annual fuel costs.

Bill Hoekstra, Five Seasons transportation director said he turned to Mirenco after the Lynn County Health Department started coming down on the bus department for violating the county’s air quality ordinance. We had 12 to 13 buses that fell into that category," he said.

Hoekstra said people may wonder why it’s important that Cedar Rapids buses meet another state’s standards. In downtown Cedar Rapids, it used to be where the amount of emissions came out was obnoxious,” he said. "Even though we don’t have an air quality problem in Cedar Rapids we still have to follow county standard, and we’re trying to get it down to nothing."

In 1987, the bus fleet wasn’t old enough to replace, so Hoekstra had to find another way to cut down on pollution emissions. He turned to Dwayne Fosseen, chairman and chief executive officer of Mirenco.

The first step was installing HydroFire, a system that injects low-proof alcohol and water into the air stream of diesel engines. That not only helps the pollution problem, Fosseen said, but it helps farmers who benefit from the promotion and sale of ethanol.

During the last four years, a new Mirenco technology, DriverMax, was installed on various buses. DriverMax was a joint venture of Mirenco and the United States Department of Energy. The patented "SmartFoot" technology is an inexpensive on board computer that watches the driver’s foot.

Called a fuel management system, DriverMax is based upon vehicle speed, road grade, gear state and wind resistance. Fosseen said DriverMax reduces those plumes of smoke form exhaust pipes. The smoke is the sign of unburnt fuel. "You’re just polluting the air," Fosseen said. "And it’s just like throwing money out the window.

The driver’s foot is the single control point for a vehicle’s fuel use, Fosseen said.

DriverMax helps correct how much gas is used by making the driver smarter without the driver even knowing it. DriverMax continuously “reads’ the driver’s foot, making real time, programmable corrections to the throttle, or gas pedal, position.

Fosseen said prior to installation of the Mirenco apparatuses 94 percent of the city 33 buses tested met California standards. Since the installation of the DriverMax and Hydro-Fire, 100 percent of the buses meet the standards. The average age of Cedar Rapids buses is 23 years. 

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 ailable 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