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First, double check the math. 1000W/12V = 83.3A

My math is correct.

Yes, 1000W is only 83.3 amps, but that's just barely over one measly horsepower. I was talking about 10kW. This is why I said 833 amps. One horsepower is a freakin joke.

This isn't even much of a concern because you'd only use this much current if you try to add a lot of torque at when the car is redlining. Most people tend not to redline their car.

Is or is not this thing being billed as a performance upgrade? I thought it was.

the motor does not need a very large power rating to do it's job well.

Power is power.
Ah yes, here's the quote:
Yes, it decreases your 0-60 time by a minimum of 3 seconds and sheds at least 3 seconds off your 1/4 mile time, over stock vehicle performance.
*cough* bullshit *cough*
17 peak horsepower is going to drop 3 seconds off my zero to sixty time?

a starter can draw up to about twice that much

A starter is a really bad choice to use for an example. It only needs to be able to operate for a few seconds, your system does not. If you ran your starter continuously, bad things would happen. Raising the voltage to 42 definately helps, but even then you're talking about pounds of copper. Given that you have to deal with underhood temperatures, that's probably 00 guage or thicker copper wire.
That, or you're going to have to track the duty cycle of you system (lost utility) or use high temp wiring (lost efficiency).
because this was an aftermarket product, and we didn't want people killed during installation, we had to limit the voltage for safety reasons.

That sucks. IMO you guys would have been better off with a much higher voltage and a really good safety system, but at that point you would have hit mechanical problems, so i suppose it's a wash.

I can see the potential for modifying an aletnator to generate more power under enginer braking, it's a cleaver idea, but some one the calim being made are irresponsible.

when installed over the fuel line, will fracture the hydrocarbon chains in the passing fuel

It's worth reading that page for a good laugh though. A link to it: http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/IRD/superfuelmax.ph p

If you're looking for something real, I think Valeo (recently had a piece on lemonde.fr) already has something along these lines.

I think the fact that they call this a simple equation gives a pretty accurate vision of the likelihood it will actually work. That definitely looks like bullshit with which to baffle.

I agree with your premise -- just creating the parts for a modern car takes a lot energy.

But, what if you could retrofit your existing car (or SUV) to operate like a hybrid, by adding a capacitor array to your existing engine as mentioned in this previous story?

Unfortunately, the related article reads a lot like an ad (and has a somewhat suspicious floating banner) and may be vaporware for all I know... but, if it works at all it sounds like a better solution than for everyone to go out and buy hybrids.

Here's an implementation in retrofit:
http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/electrocharger/elec trocharger.php

If easily retrofitted to a common car, or offered as an option these low speed, high economy then it's ready to go,

since there are times when we get stuck in slow moving traffic and you can't turn off your engine because some git in front will take the gap (and coasting downhill is illegal...).

Yes there's the hybrid car but I'm not going to buy something like that until it's cheaper. If I could get something to power me round at 30mph at cheaper rates I really would consider it.

Just because the spammers are ruining your day doesn't mean you have to forego the item completely... Buy a different manufacturer/model. I highly recommend the original Bit Char-G Micro RCs at either your local japanese toy shop, or lacking that-- a listing on eBay will do the trick well enough. $25-$30 is generally the going price and yeah, the instructions are in Japanese, but if you can't figure out the large obvious pictorials, you shouldn't be using a computer anyway (in other words some assembly required, takes under 10min for the average first time user). Bit Char's were around before the micro RC craze here and they're good quality and well supported. Upgradable motors (up to 30,000 rpm!) and tires in addition to the bodies. Good stuff.

What gets me is the number of people who let spam alter their shopping habits. Avoiding the seller I can understand. He spammed you, you're pissed. But boycotting the entire brand? Come on now. The manufacture most likely doesn't have a clue and even if they did, there's not a whole lot they could do about it. So just get your present as planned form either the store or a more reputable website. Easy, ne?

Heres the fixxed link, sorry: http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/TechieMon/offroadbi ke.html

Here is a competitor:

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/TechieMon/ksaucer.h tml

Says here that is only flies 1-3 minutes but can also be "plugged in" for a longer flight.

A cooler version I think is the mini indoor helicopter for a little over half the price

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/TechieMon/khelicopt er.html

Now this would be a fun toy at work!!

Here is a competitor:

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/TechieMon/ksaucer.h tml

Says here that is only flies 1-3 minutes but can also be "plugged in" for a longer flight.

A cooler version I think is the mini indoor helicopter for a little over half the price

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/TechieMon/khelicopt er.html

Now this would be a fun toy at work!!