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ICQ Chat Save file
Started on Mon Jan 19 19:11:02 1998
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<Joe LaStella> Welcome, David- would you like to ask Mr. Fowler any questions?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Sure, I have a few!
<Joe LaStella> Shoot-
<Joe LaStella> this is, Bill Fowler speaking on behalf of Joe.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Ok, first question: Did anyone go to the Detroit auto show? If not, why?
<Joe LaStella> We are not in the manufacturing business. We are strictly developing technology for licensing.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Ok, also, I heard you are meeting with Renault on Jan 22, 23rd. I was curious as the purpose of that meeting. Is it the consumer sector of Renault, or racing?
<Joe LaStella> David: Renault is one of several companies that we are meeting with over the next 2 weeks. To discuss the Pulse Charge technology. And we are meeting for both racing and consumer talks.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> So your hope is to enter in some licensing agreement with one of these companies concerning pulse charge.
<Joe LaStella> Our goal is to sign several license agreements over the next few months.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> This may be a simple question, but what sort of fuel was running in the Yanmar diesel engine of the Geo Metro?
<Joe LaStella> we ran diesel fuel in the Yanmar, however we have run other diesel engines on gasoline fuel and we have built at least 15 gasoline engines with the Pulse Charge technology, over the past 3 years.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> The diesel fuel you ran. Is that normal diesel, that I would find at a gas station? Also, the gasoline you used, what octane needs to be used?
<Joe LaStella> This is normal diesel, yes. The gasoline we used was 92 octane.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> People were concerned that there might be a lean fuel mixture and high pressures in the engine thereby decreasing engine life (and are speculating as to the cause of the oil leak). What can you tell me about this?
<Joe LaStella> The pulse charge technology actually results in longer engine life.
<Joe LaStella> a portion of the pulse charge technology allows the engine to breathe better, resulting in lower exhaust temperatures.
<Joe LaStella> The oil leak turned out to be a faulty injector.
<Joe LaStella> allowing excess fuel to enter the combustion chamber causing some smoking of exhaust gases
<Joe LaStella> which was evident on some of the news channels coverage that evening on TV
<gtoland> joe, why don't you use a stock engine and a modified one to show the difference
<Joe LaStella> We did run a stock car and our modified geo metro.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Ok, so it is your belief that high pressures that may/may not be in the engine do not contribute to engine wear and tear
<Joe LaStella> We have already published on our web site dyno test results from engines before and after pulse charge conversion running on gasoline. Yanmar diesels of the type we used are very rare in the U.S. in fact there is an 8 month backlog to order one of these engines, therefore we did not have the opportunity to run a backup engine
<Cygnostik> longer engine life results excluding normal friction of internal drive components or the effect that heat has on materials?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> How is the lack of a backup going to effect the next demo run? Will the same Yanmar engine be used?
<Joe LaStella> We are rebuilding the existing engine and we are confident we will not experience any more problems.
<gtoland> actually i was thinking two cars running at the same time showing the difference in mpg.
<Joe LaStella> the pulse charge technology incorporates simple design changes... 1) Intake port modification 2) Exhaust port modification 3) Combustion Chamber modification 4) Cam shaft modification these modifications now allow a diesel engine to operate and function in a similar manner to a gasoline engine, the diesel engine can now quickly accelerate to RPM ranges in excess of 4,000
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Do I understand correctly that BAAT owns the patents too all pulse charge technology?
<Joe LaStella> BAT owns all rights to pulse charge technology.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Can those "simple" design changes be patented? Couldn't anyone modify those 4 things?
<Cygnostik> I can then assume that baat and its pulse charge engine is protected. Also when i look at bat as investment it is not just based on this one technology right?
<Joe LaStella> Cygnostik: We currently have 35 pages of patent documentation with numerous claims. So, yes more than one technology exists and are attourneys feel our technologies are well protected.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Excellent.
<Cygnostik> great
<Joe LaStella> We've done 2 years research on existing patents and preparing our extremely comprehensive patents, it has been reviewed by some of the top patent attornies in california and their opinions are, we posess very strong claims to perfect our patent.
<Joe LaStella> We do not intend to file our patents until we have a partner
with deep pockets to defend our patents if required.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Just to back up to the patent for a bit, does that mean the patents are pending? (I am not a patent lawyer)
<DavidcG/RedBaron> My concern is that FORD doesn't come by and start taking over this technology (stealing it)
<Joe LaStella> David: Patents are not pending until such time as we license a major manufacturer of automobiles or engines. We plan to keep our technologies as trade secrets.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Emmissions...people are wondering if it would pass CA emmissions standards?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Or how low are these emmission?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> (or how much higher are these emmissions)
<Joe LaStella> David: Shortly after the Feb. 10th Run- we intend to have the emissions certified by a California air resource board authorized emissions station. We anticipate very low emissions.
<Joe LaStella> David: The Pulse Charge modification has very low emissions.
<gtoland> I did not hear of the results on the stock car, what were the difference?
<gtoland> Does your technology work with gas engines? Are you planning any tests on them?
<Joe LaStella> Yes the technology works with gas engines. And yes we are planning 4 or 5 more major tests on the California Speedway, and prior to our next test Feb. 10th we will annouce the next 4 dates after- which will include gasoline engine demonstrations
<Joe LaStella> gtoland: The technology will work on any engine.
<teddybear> In your recent news release it mentioned that baat
<teddybear> intend to license the technologies.. are you also
<teddybear> planning to manufacture the engines at baat?
<Joe LaStella> We will license technologies only, we do not intend to manufacture
<Joe LaStella> gtoland: for comparing mileage see our web page...
<DavidcG/RedBaron> What is the TOP speed able to be maintained in the Yanmar engine on the GEO metro?
<Joe LaStella> The top speed is the same as the regular GEO, 85MPH.
<gtoland> why not then use a engine that is easily accessable in the usa
<gtoland> I drive a Dodge truck with a 5. diesel engine. Will I be able to modify this engine and get better mpg?
<Joe LaStella> However there are no plans to modify existing engines except for large diesel fleet applications where it is normal to overhaul their engines every 500,000 to 1,000,000 miles, during that overhaul period it is very inexpensive to incorporate the Pulse charge technology and we are now discussing this with several companies in europe and US.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> To follow up gto's question: basically this is not a retrofit for consumer vehicles but something for NEW consumer vehicles
<Joe LaStella> David: Not for retrofitting consumer vehicles, this technology is suitable for new engines and overhauling existing fleets, in the course of normal maintenance.
<teddybear> What kind of revenues do you expect to generate
<teddybear> from licenses.. in ball-park figures, if possible ..
<Joe LaStella> 1st license will be in the range of 25 to 50 million. (with additional royalties)
<Joe LaStella> Subsequent licenses will be higher. All negotiations will be handled by a nationally recognized financial firm.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> When I spoke to Mike, it seemed there was a strong emphasis to market this to foreign companies. Why foreign over domestic automakers?
<Joe LaStella> david: In Asia, and Europe fuel costs range from 3-5 dollars per gallon.
<Joe LaStella> The need for a high efficiency vehicle is in great demand and is more economically feasable even if the vehicle costs more, however the pulse charge technology will not increases engine costs.
<Joe LaStella> each engine that is retrofitted with the pulse charge technology requires drawings, engineering, shop designs, and field testing. We have already made a substantial investment in these catagories with the yanmar, it would take us approx. 3 months to switch engines and perform all the previously mentioned tests.
<gtoland> Why did you decide to use the yanmar engine?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Can we expect better updates on Feb. 10th on the test run? (via web or the phone) I would really like to either see something or speak to someone other than your receptionist on Feb 10th. Will this be possible? Thank you.
<Joe LaStella> David: We apologize for the interupt in communications during the last demonstration, and promise a smoother transition this time.
<Cygnostik> what kind of results do you think a rerun of the geo on feb 10 will produce and will it be an exact repeat of test criteria as the first?
<Cygnostik> the reason i ask is the stock dropped on the test day and it may now be a advantagious to start picking up more if results of test were noticed by a major manufacturer
<Joe LaStella> we are presently negotiating with both european and asian automobile companies
<Joe LaStella> hopefully detroit will come to the table soon
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Also, I look at these things from a marketing standpoint. My next question: Is there a reason the word BAT or BAAT isn't in large print all over the GEO metro test vehicle?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> I did see smaller baat labels..
<Joe LaStella> On this run we intend to have decals that will identify BAAT property.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> If you can get that inside near the engine too, that would be great !
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Here is the question I don't know if it can be answered. What is the major drawback to this technology (the pulse charge)
<Joe LaStella> there are no major drawbacks.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Ok, I just don't want to be suprised in the future if there is a major drawback (like poor acceleration, or major lag in acceleration)...
<DavidcG/RedBaron> good to hear a technology with no major drawbacks!
<teddybear> Could I ask how many cars will you have on feb,10
<teddybear> ... any plans for 1-2 spare cars, just in case..?
<Joe LaStella> We plan to have the Stock Geo Metro, and the modified Geo Metro, no spare cars or engines, as previously explained.
<Joe LaStella> on Feb. 10th we intend to run several hundred miles at, at least 2 different speeds. We are going back to demostrate the full potential of the vehicle without any oil problems. We should easily exceed the Jan 15th results.
<Cygnostik> Do you think that eventually that this technology will be employed by most engines produced?
<Joe LaStella> Cygnostik: Any engine that does not employ this technology over the next 5 years will be considered antiques- in fuel efficiency and in performance.
<gtoland> will they be running simultaneously car
<Cygnostik> it would seem so if it actually performs as tested at 40mile per hr. Have you ever tested at higher speeds and distance
<Joe LaStella> Cygnostik: On saturday Jan 10th, the car was tested at highway speeds up to 75MPH on I-5 and on the hills north of L.A.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Who was the independent body that verified your test data results?
<Joe LaStella> david: the following profesional test drivers performed and attested to the results and the test data that was acquired: Rodger Ward, Private consulant, 2-time indy 500 winner and hall of fame member. Keith Harper -KETT engineering corp. Also Test driver for general Motors, Pikes Peak vehicle test headquarters. John Green - MOTOR SPORTS INC, contracted by mercedes benz and lexus. Gene Cosmano, nationally recognized race car driver, who set 4 major speed records in one evening.
<Joe LaStella> AND
<Joe LaStella> Certified P.E. Engineer, Curt Thurmon, President, Consolidated Energy, inc.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> That is alot of experts on the field . My opinion, but I think it would have been wise to have a statement from them on a news release verifying the 92.5 mpg test. From an investor standpoint, people won't believe the data was misrepresented. Because the "experts" good names would be behind the numbers.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Does that sound reasonable?
<Joe LaStella> Out of the thousands of the phone calls we've recieved no one questioned the data. It is all verified, by professional drivers and engineers.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Sorry, didn't mean to imply I was questioning the data, just thought it might be good marketing of the engine.
<Bos> have any idea of next test date
<Joe LaStella> Bos: Feb. 10th - california Speedway, fontana california. see web pages for details.
<gtoland> have any of these drivers or others come out and talked to the press about their experiences
<Joe LaStella> gto: all proffesional drivers discussed the tests with the 3 news channels that were on site Jan 15th
<gtoland> how about some national coverage?
<gtoland> I'm in N. CAL and did not see or hear any of that information. maybe some press release about the comments from the drivers.
<Cygnostik> Do you have documentation of attestment are each participant available to check with?
<Joe LaStella> All drivers will sign a document attesting to the results achieved on the 92.5 Miles per gallon test.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Excellent, thank you! It will look good to a skeptical stock market, and may bring new investors in where they might have been skeptical in the past.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Is the technical data going to be made available to a web site?
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Also, will there be more of a technical description of the pulse-charge technology on the web site in the future? (besides the general statement that there a 4-5 things modified in the engine)
<DavidcG/RedBaron> In other words, can we expect to see something about this in Popular Mechanics or Popular Science magazines in the future?
<DavidcG/RedBaron>
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Or is it such a trade secret that we will have to wait?
<Joe LaStella> Yes, there is already some technical data available on the web site.
<Joe LaStella> We have given all the non proprietary information available on the web site, and we will see other publications however at the present time, we don't know where they will come from.
<gtoland> That is great mileage on an faulty engine. What do you expect from an engine that is working properly?
<Brad> Can this incresed mpg be achieved with a mid-sized car?
<Joe LaStella> Brad: Yes.
<Bos> Can this be installed on all present engines in use
<Joe LaStella> Bos: No, not practical to do so. except in fleet applications as previously described.
<Joe LaStella> Bos: no there are no plans for any manufacturing of vehicles. We only intend to license our technologies.
<DavidcG/RedBaron> Can you define what news media covered the event? I know 3 local stations. I heard CNN austrailia or austria? I guess there was also a blurb in the 1/19 Investors business daily. and LA daily news. Any other reports we can read (of which you are aware)?
<Joe LaStella> David: None at this time. |
