August 26, 2007

Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts) 

 

Tailpipe Filter Taking Off 

 

 

Tailpipe Filter Taking Off 

Bill O’Brien thinks his “Blade is a cutting-edge technology that could transform how automobiles perform. 

 

O’Brien’s Sabertec has been selling in the Boston area a new Automobile tailpipe filter that he claims both reduces carbon-pollution emissions and improves fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent in some cars. 

 

The Blade -- now on Sale at Ideal Engine Rebuilders in Somerville’s Davis Square and Woodward Auto Parts Express in Brockton -- is just the latest gizmo on the market being touted as a wonder technology that addresses concerns about energy costs and carbon pollutants believed to be causing global warming. 

 

But O’Brien, a Brockton native who founded Austin, Texas-based Sabertec in 2005 after purchasing patents to a diesel filter technology in Brazil, says his device is the real thing--even though he freely admits he doesn’t quite understand how the $149.99 Blade works. 

 

“It was quite by accident”, he said of the development and alleged benefits of the Blade technology. 

 

One thing is for sure: He has a big fan in Skip Hansen, service manager of Ideal Engine Rebuilders, which has already sold about 26 Blades following a year of testing the product on Boston roads. 

 

Blade’s filter cartridges, which have to be replaced every 5,000 to 10,000 miles cost $19.99 each. 

 

“It’s going to be gigantic,” said Hansen of Blade. 

 

“I run it on my own car and my wife’s car...It works.”...