Drivers may be able to save money at the pump and do their bit for the environment at the same time thanks to a new product distributed by Bermuda Energy Conservation Ltd. (ENCON), the company claims.

'Blade', which claims to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel efficiency and economy in gasoline powered vehicles, works by being attached to the exhaust pipe of a car or truck.

And Michael Swan, manager of ENCON, who introduced the device to the Bermuda and Caribbean market two months ago, reckons that the savings that can be made are considerable, while also actively reducing your carbon footprint.

The new technology was the first to pass the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 511 Protocol guidelines for increased fuel economy and cut back on exhaust emissions in independent laboratory testing on a fleet of vehicles, ahead of more than 100 automotive devices and fuel additives, according to Mr. Swan.

The lab results, which were released last month, reveal that Blade reduces CO2 emissions from automotive tailpipes by up to 12 percent and also improves gas mileage by up to 12 percent. The results suggest that if every car and light-duty truck in the US was equipped with the product, the CO2 emissions reduction would be equivalent to removing approximately 15.5 million cars from the road.

Developed by Sabertec, Blade affixes to the tailpipe of any car, SUV, light-duty truck or hybrid, said Mr. Swan, working by cutting down on the time of a vehicle's 'cold start' operation and by improving the volumetric efficiency of the engine.

"I came across this product doing research on providing energy efficiencies for myself to start with, but then realised it could benefit other people as well," he said.

The device was first developed in Brazil, before the concept was taken over by US company Sabertec, who now supply ENCON with the product, said Mr. Swan.

"When it was first created in Brazil, it was done so to really reduce emissions, but what they discovered was that while the design decreased emissions of CO2, it also improved fuel economy," he said.

Mr. Swan is a graphic designer by trade, having worked for XL Capital Ltd. as a senior designer for the marketing department most recently as well as running his own art gallery, the Michael Swan Gallery at Clocktower Mall in Dockyard, and two stores in Hamilton. He said the take-up of the device had been good so far, with a number of sales being made to fleet vehicles. The Department of Works & Engineering has also bought some to test out.

He said the US tests were carried out at Automotive Testing and Development Services Inc. (ATDS), which has been used by most of major automakers to test for fuel economy and emissions, and is accepted by the EPA and licensed by the California Air Resources Board.

A range of US and overseas vehicles from four-cylinder, six-cylinder and eight-cylinder passenger cars to an eight-cylinder van and four-cylinder hybrid vehicle were put through their paces under the EPA 511 Protocol, the most rigorous test procedure in existence and the only one that the EPA considers statistically valid. "We are thrilled with the new results from ATDS, and we feel more confident than ever as we continue to mobilise our company's core mission: reduce the toxic particulate and CO2," said Mr.Swan."We at ENCON are thrilled to introduce Blade to Bermuda and to date feedback has been very positive from drivers using the device."The feedback has been fantastic - everyone that we have sold the product to has said that the needles on their fuel gauge have been going down slower as a result."I know that myself, for one, is garnering the savings from it and other people are too, so good for them."The device, which comes in black and chrome and is designed to a fit an exhaust pipe of two inches of less in diameter, costs $249 and comes with a free filter, which should be replaced every 10,000 miles or once a year at a cost of $25.Mr. Swan will be exhibiting Blade and other energy efficient products at the Home Show held at Bermuda College next month.For more information, call 292-4553 or e-mail mswanlogic.bm, or visit www.caribbeanblade.com, www.sabertec.org or www.bladeyourride.com