The key to any hustle is a believable story. It’s no different with fuel-saving flimflams, which often claim to exploit some small, overlooked factor that automakers or oil companies don’t want you to know about. Normally, we wouldn’t give a second thought to fuel-economy hucksterism, but our dedication to journalistic inquiry—and our desire to save you a few bucks in these times of rising gas prices—found us ordering five items that promise to stretch your petro-dollar. Four of the five devices showed up, and we tested each in a Mazda 3 and a Jeep Grand Cherokee at steady speeds—35 and 70 mph—on the oval test track at Chrysler’s Chelsea proving ground. ), which plugs into a vehicle’s OBD II port, provided accurate average-fuel-economy measurements. Well, we hope they don’t surprise you. The Claim: “Simply placed in the fuel tank or air filter, the Dynamic Ionizer pellets act as a molecular Ionizer on the fuel in the tank and air on the filter. This dynamic ionizing effect energies [sic] the fuel and air at molecular level [sic] causing [sic] to be agitated as it enters the combustion chambers.”

The Result: We never had a chance to try out these magic beans. Six weeks after we received a shipping notification from pre-tsunami Japan, this product had yet to arrive. The Claim: Plugged into the cigarette-lighter socket, “the FD-47 increases a vehicle’s miles per gallon (MPG) through power conditioning of the vehicle’s electrical systems. Conditioned and clean power allows the vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU), fuel injection and engine timing equipment to operate more efficiently.” The Result: The modest improvement we saw is nowhere near the claim of  “up to 25 percent” more mpg and likely attributable to minor variables such as wind. Post-test, we cracked open the FD-47 to find a simple circuit board for the LED lights. Even if you could “condition” the ECU through the lighter socket, it’s unlikely  the Fuel Doctor is doing so. On the upside, it might help prevent you from smoking in your car. 35 mph: +2%70 mph: +1% Update: The people at Fuel Doctor take issue with our test of their product.

Fuel Doctor claims that its product is meant for vehicles that are 2 or more years old. We acknowledge that our test was performed on newer vehicles and stand behind our result. If you wish to perform your own examination we refer you to Fuel Doctor’s 90-day money back guarantee. We recommend you don't bother, though. Our follow-up test, performed with help from an independent expert, supports our initial conclusion. You can read the full report on that test here. The Claim: “The vehicle’s voltage will drop when electrical components are in use and when the car is under acceleration; Hyper Voltage System stores electricity to provide constant voltage to your electrical system.” The Result: Remember the thing about a credible story? Here’s a perfect example. Accessories sap power from the electrical system. The alternator responds by pumping out more power and increasing the engine’s load and fuel consumption. The capacitors in the Hot InaZma Eco (we took a destructive peek inside) are not likely what was responsible for the negligible fuel-economy improvement we measured.

The Claim: “Moletech is a fuel enrichment system that modifies the properties of fuel. It changes the molecular aggregation of the fuel from larger clusters to smaller clusters or even single molecules by breaking down the van der Waals force between the fuel molecules. air purifiers ozone generator vs ionizerThe smaller fuel molecules expose a larger surface area for improved contact with oxygen which produces a better combustion reaction, in turn allowing greater fuel efficiency.”honeywell hepa air purifier canada The Result: The Moletech consists of three small cylinders: one for the fuel tank, one for the air cleaner, and one for a coolant line. sharp plasmacluster car air purifier price

After installation, these passive devices require an “activation,” whereby you rev the engine for a few minutes. Even if the chemistry mumbo jumbo were real, what’s to stop the fuel from clumping up again on the way to the engine? You’re better off wearing a special fuel-optimization party hat than buying the Moletech. 35 mph: +2%70 mph: -1% FUEL BOSS MAGNETIC FUEL SAVER The Claim: “When gasoline remains in your tank over time, the fuel molecules start to cluster. The molecules on the inside of these clusters can’t be exposed to the oxygen necessary for combustion. The result is incomplete fuel burn with the unburned molecules emitted as pollution or remaining inside the engine as damaging carbon/varnish deposits. [It delivers] an abrupt designed magnetic field to break up these fuel clusters, exposing all molecules to the oxygen, ensuring the best fuel burn possible!” The Result: Fuel readily burns when it’s vaporized, mixed properly with oxygen, and lit with a spark.

Save the magnets for a bracelet that improves your golf game. For the truly gullible, the company also offers an “ultra-heavy-duty” version for $38.99. 35 mph: -2%70 mph: -5%Santa Fe just celebrated its 400th birthday as North America’s oldest capital city. Yet it is also among the most forward-thinking when it comes to ecology. A walkable, bike-friendly town with a bus system that runs on natural gas, Santa Fe also has made great strides in its water conservation efforts. Add its initiatives to preserve open spaces and support green businesses, and you have a city that could decide to rest on its eco-conscious laurels. But Santa Fe has even greater ambitions. Santa Fe’s aggressive Economic Development Strategy aspires to make it the “clean-energy capital of the US.” To this end, the city adopted the Sustainable Santa Fe Plan in October 2008, which emphasizes caring for future generations by acting on three intersecting principles: environmental stewardship, economic health and social justice.

And the city is progressing smartly along this path. Water Conservation The city’s water usage has decreased as its citizens have become more aware of this precious resource. Due to its scarcity in this high-desert environment (Santa Fe’s elevation is 7,000 feet), water is the single most limiting factor for the city’s growth. In 2006, city residents used 37% less water per capita than in 1995. One way this remarkable feat has been achieved is through widespread gray water and rainwater harvesting by residences, businesses and public buildings for landscaping and gardens. The city is now implementing a pilot program of installing permeable pavement to reduce urban runoff and increase groundwater recharge. New land development and redevelopments of buildings, parking lots and roadways are required to design and build drainage systems that prevent storm-water runoff pollution. A reservoir holds rainwater and snowmelt from the mountains just above the city where tributaries feed the 46-mile-long Santa Fe River.

Depending on annual precipitation, the city draws from both surface and groundwater in varying proportions. For the first time in decades, the city worked with the Santa Fe Watershed Association last spring to release the river—transforming an otherwise dry, sandy streambed into a flowing river that supports riparian habitat and enlivens a cottonwood and willow-lined greenbelt through town. Eco Transportation Santa Fe scores in the top 10% of walkable cities in the US. There are several historic districts with excellent cafés, bakeries, museums, bookstores, shops and galleries. The downtown plaza has a traditional stage for live music and performances where, in contrast to most Western tourist-trap towns, local residents indulge in the cultural happenings just as much as visitors. And walking isn’t limited to just the city. The Santa Fe Conservation Trust has preserved over 30,000 acres of open space in Santa Fe and adjoining counties, protecting wildlife habitat and natural landscapes.

Their volunteers maintain numerous hiking trails in Santa Fe’s foothills—as well as unpaved biking and equestrian trails. Speaking of biking, there used to be a joke among locals that if you rode a bike, you were new in town. But that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Many city routes have designated bike paths with signs asking motorists to allow cyclists five feet from the road’s shoulder. Santa Fe Trails, the city’s bus system, runs on compressed natural gas (CNG), which burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel. Even the mayor rides the bus. People using vehicles that run on CNG can also use the city’s fueling station. Almost a year ago, Santa Fe became the northernmost destination for New Mexico’s Rail Runner, a light rail system serving a 101-mile corridor along the Rio Grande. The downtown terminal is located in the reinvigorated Railyard District, which bustles with a jumble of activity, including the farmers market, an African drumming studio, youth hub, museums, eateries and more.

The new train offers inexpensive, green commuting for thousands of state government workers from points south as well as transportation for many Santa Fe residents who work in Albuquerque. Eco-Conscious Businesses The main drivers of Santa Fe’s economy are tourism and state government, the largest employer. Santa Fe hosts approximately 1.6 million visitors annually, bringing in more than $1 billion for the retail industry, much of which is from the sale of fine arts. And Santa Fe has more and more businesses going green—helping to move the city’s overall economy in an environmentally friendly direction. On the green business front, there is a burgeoning farmers market that gives small, local food and land-based enterprises access to local commerce. Santa Fe boasts many other environmentally conscious businesses such as green printer, Paper Tiger. [Paper Tiger is our site sponsor and offers a 15% discount to our readers. – Ed.] The Santa Fe Alliance is an active Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) member.

It’s a great resource for learning how to eat local, buy local and hire local, keeping 45¢ of every dollar spent circulating in the community. Green Social Justice The first colonization of this region was under Spanish and Mexican rule; the second was under US rule. Because this turbulent cultural history still permeates Santa Fe residents’ daily lives, the city planners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), business leaders and citizens have worked to make sustainability equitable. Santa Fe partners with Homewise Inc. to provide low-interest loans to homeowners who want to install energy-efficiency upgrades to their homes. Homeowners who save energy are eligible for rebates from New Mexico’s largest utility company, PNM. More Eco-Advantages The biggest advantages to living in Santa Fe are clean air, stunning natural beauty, a multicultural community and fresh, local heritage foods. Ensconced in the heart of northern New Mexico’s backyard biodiversity renaissance, the local food movement is one of Santa Fe’s most important green initiatives There are both farm-to-table restaurants and farm-to-school programs.