Envirofit:  2-Stroke of Genius

Vision and foresight is the hallmark of genius. A technology that works in preserving the environment conserves instead of expends. If something doesn’t work anymore it is more logical to modify it instead of just dumping it. At the heart of saving the environment after all are the three R’s: reuse, reduce and recycle.

Colorado State University is a world leader in engine technologies and clean engine development with the purpose of solving problems concerning energy, environment and health. Brainiacs at CSU Tim Bauer and Nathan Lorenz were right on track when they developed a conversion kit for two-stroke motorcycles. What did they know then? The fact that in South Asia there are 100 million units of dirty two-stroke motorcycles and that this number is equivalent to having five billion cars on the streets. Compare that to the actual number of cars in the whole world which is 450 million and you got an equation that is grotesquely astonishing. Add that to the fact that these two-strokes use up 10 million liters of fuel a day making it ultimately an inefficient mode of transport.

What other thing did they know? That it is more logical to retrofit two-strokes with a direct injection kit than to simply just trash millions of them or live with the pollution they cause.

With a working prototype of such a kit to make the engine more environment-friendly by reducing emissions and making it more fuel-efficient, the guys of CSU came to the Philippines. Today, Envirofit Philippines Foundation is a non-profit organization that “offers a clean technology that reduces pollution and energy dependency, thereby yielding health and economic improvement”. It was initially charity-funded by the CSU but after two years of operation has grown to be self-sustaining maintaining advocacy operations in Puerto Princesa, Vigan, Mandaluyong and even exploratory tests in Boracay. Envirofit Philippines Foundation runs a research facility at the Don Bosco Sustainable Technologies Laboratory since 2005. With the retrofit kit, research showed 89% reduction in Hydrocarbon and 76% reduction in Carbon Monoxide emissions while fuel consumption is lowered by 35% and oil consumption by 50%.

In the Philippines, there are 1.3 million registered two-strokes. Following the South Asia equation on such motorcycles, a two-stroke motorcycle equals 50 cars and if we factor in the common use of the motorcycle in the country then that means a two-stroke tricycle equals practically 50 taxis plying our streets.

A complete ban on two-stroke motorcycles is being considered and many municipalities have already began deliberations with various Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations regarding the issue. However, there are many factors to be considered like the loss of livelihood for many and the feasibility of shifting to four-stroke tricycles. But the big question is where are we going to put the 1.3 million two-stroke motorcycles?

Envirofit Philippines Foundation sees imposing a ban on two-strokes to be hardly the solution to the problem especially where the environment is concerned. Four-strokes offer limited emissions reduction. According to Envirofit’s findings, a two-stroke retrofitted with the Envirofit Kit is cleaner than a carbureted four-stroke. A ban doesn’t also assure that the two-strokes will be completely taken off the streets as those two-strokes will most likely be transferred to a place with lenient enforcement of laws on two-stroke bans.

At first, creating awareness about Envirofit proved to be a difficult task especially with the growing keenness on a simple shift to four-strokes. However, the alternative technology has found its place in a municipality that prides itself for being environment-friendly and consistently innovative and persistently headstrong in maintaining its eco-friendly position. Envirofit found a fitting partner in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and has continuously gained popularity nationwide as the solution to the two-stroke problem.

As an incentive to drivers and owners, the City of Puerto Princesa shouldered half of the cost of the kit which is P18,500. Last month, Mayor Edward Hagedorn met with the local TODA to commemorate the 100th two-stroke tricycle retrofitted with the Envirofit.  The number is still growing with the target to be at about 1,000 two-stroke tricycles. The clock is ticking for dirty two-strokes in Puerto Princesa as Mayor Hagedorn has already set July 1, 2008 as the day the total ban on dirty two-strokes will take effect.

For Puerto Princesa, Envirofit is the soundest solution to the oppressive problem with two-stroke tricycles – environment-friendly, fuel-efficient and cost-effective. Tricycle drivers even report increased income and the Don Bosco lab results showed dramatic positive effects to the environment in the long-term.

We hear all the time: if it ain’t broke, why fix it? As for the country’s problem with the two-stroke tricycles, Envirofit adds another other R: reduce, reuse, recycle – and retrofit.

For more information log on to www.envirofit.org or contact Envirofit Philippines Foundation general manager Amador Alumia 0917-8922361, amador.alumia@ envirofit.org and operations director Marte Lapasaran 0921-4803714, marte.lapasaran@ envirofit.org.