Economy device caution

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 21

Economy device caution

Devices which are claimed to save fuel are the latest to come under Consumers Institute scrutiny.

“Too many so-called petrol-saving devices are expensive gimmicks which will not give motorists increased fuel economy,” said the institute’s director, Mr R. J. Smithies. “A number of gadgets promising large petrol savings are being advertised and promoted in press and TV reports without a shred of supporting New Zealand scientific evidence to sub* stantiate the claims made fooSthem.”

The Ministry of Energy has set up a scheme to test fuel-saving . devices and the Consumers Institute warns that anyone contemplating buying a device should first ask whether it has been tested, and if so to see a copy of the report. The best-known fuel- > saving device sold in Christchurch is the Briggs Atomiser, developed by a Christchurch engineer, Mr B. E. Briggs. .' Mr Briggs said ’ this week that he had been trying for six weeks to have his device tested by the Ministry of Energy but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury has just completed a static bench test on the Briggs device and Mr Briggs said that it had proved favourable to his invention.

This report and an Air New Zealand report were available to the public, he said.