We wrote to the Air Resources Board to inquire about ATG's registration of the Force. Below is an excerpt from their reply to our letter.
From: rcastro@arb.ca.gov <rcastro@arb.ca.gov> To: (deleted) Cc: cmadina@cleanair.arb.ca.gov <cmadina@cleanair.arb.ca.gov> Date: Thursday, July 16, 1998 12:49 PM Subject: Re: REQUEST: "The Force" and American Technologies Group ... [snip] ... This Executive order simply exempts the device from California's anti-tampering law so it's legal for sale here. The basis for this is that use of the device will not cause any increase in emissions. The manufacturer did not provide adequate basis to substantiate their claims of emission reductions. Executive Order also said that based on our technical evaluation the device will not perform as claimed by the manufacturer. |
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(Page 1 of 2)
State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
EXECUTIVE ORDER D-339-4
Relating to Exemption Under Section 27156 of the Vehicle Code
AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
THE FORCE/TURBOGEL
WHEREAS, Vehicle Code Section 27156 and Title 13 California Code of
Regulations (hereafter "CCR") Section 2222(e), authorize the California
Air Resources Board (ARB) and its Executive Officer to exempt add-on and
modified parts from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156.
WHEREAS, American Technologies Group, Inc. of 1017 S. Mountain, Monrovia,
California 91016 has applied to the ARB for exemption from the
prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156 for The Force/Turbogel.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority vested in the Executive Officer by
Health and Safety Code Section 39515 and in the Chief, Mobile Source
Division by Health and Safety Code Section 39516 and Executive Order
G-45-9, the ARB finds:
1. The Force/TurboGel is an add-on device that is placed in the air
filter in a motor vehicle.
2. The air filter is part of the required motor vehicle pollution control
system.
3. The Force/TurboGel is intended for use with a required pollution
control system.
4. The Force/TurboGel by being placed in the air filter alters the
original design of a motor vehicle pollution control system.
5. The Force/TurboGel is a device subject to the prohibitions of Vehicle
Code Section 27156 and an add-on part as defined by Title 13, CCR Section
1900(b)(1).
6. The Force/TurboGel does not reduce the effectiveness of any required
motor vehicle pollution control device.
7. The ARB, in the exercise of technical judgement, is aware of no basis
on which The Force/TurboGel will provide either a decrease in emission or
an increase in fuel economy.
8. It has not been determined what effect use of The Force/TurboGel may
have on any warranty, either expressed or implied, by the manufacturer of
a motor vehicle on which the device is installed.
9. The Force/TurboGel is not a certified motor vehicle pollution control
device pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 43644.
10. The ARB by granting an exemption to American Technologies Group, Inc.
for The Force/TurboGel does not recommend or endorse in any way The
Force/TurboGel for emissions reduction, fuel economy, or any other
purpose.
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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. EXECUTIVE ORDER D-339-4 THE FORCE/TURBOGEL (Page 2 of 2) No testing was conducted to determine the impact of The Force/TurboGel on emissions. Based on engineering evaluation, the Air Resources Board determined that the Force/TurboGel has no significant impact on either evaporative or exhaust emissions if tested in accordance to the Cold-Start CVS-75 Federal Test Procedure. IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Force/TurboGel is exempt from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156 for installation on 1998 and older model-year gasoline and diesel powered vehicles subject to the following conditions: 1. This exemption shall not apply to any device, apparatus, or mechanism advertised, offered for sale or sold with, or installed on, a motor vehicle prior to or concurrent with transfer to an ultimate purchaser. 2. No changes are permitted to the device as described in the application for exemption. Any changes to the device, applicable model year, or other factors addressed in the order must be evaluated and approved by the ARB prior to marketing in California. 3. Marketing of this device using an identification other than that shown in this Executive Order or marketing of this device for an application other than those listed in this Executive Order shall be prohibited unless prior approval is obtained from the ARB. Exemption of this product shall not be construed as an exemption to sell, offer for sale, or advertise any component of the product as an individual device. 4. Any oral or written references to this Executive Order or its content by American Technologies Group, Inc. its principals, agents, employees, distributors, dealers, or other representatives must include the disclaimer that the Executive Order or the exemption it provides is not an endorsement or approval of any fuel economy or emissions reduction claims for The Force/TurboGel and is only a finding that the device is exempt from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156. 5. No claim of any kind, such as "Approved by the Air Resources Board" may be made with respect to the action taken in any advertising or other oral or written communication. Violation of any of the above conditions shall be grounds for revocation of this order. The order may be revoked only after a ten-day written notice of intention to revoke the order, in which period the holder of the order may request in writing a hearing to contest the proposed revocation. If a hearing is requested, it shall be held within ten days of receipt of the request and the order may not be revoked until a determination after hearing that grounds for revocation exist. Executive Order D-339-3, dated November 24, 1997, is superseded and of no further force and effect. The Bureau of Automotive Repair will be notified by copy of this order. Executed at El Monte, California, the 29th day of April 1998. R. B. Summerfield, Chief Mobile Source Operations Division |