William Engwer's Groups
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William Engwer and the SOLO-UCV
Profile Information
- Are you interested in becoming an organizer in your area?
- Yes
- Tell us about your experience with alternative energy:
- I've been experimenting and working with alternative energy systems for years, began installing propane dual-fuel conversions in the 70s in the wake of the first gas crunch, was involved with a pilot ethanol program in the early 80s (including running my personal Triumph GT6 on it) and was a member of the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition in the mid 90's. I'm currently developing a lightweight CNG vehicle of my own design that's a natural for getting attention and raising public awareness.
- What excites you about this campaign?
- Mr. Pickens is saying the same things I've believed for years, and I'm so glad that someone with the vision AND the resources to make something happen has stepped up to the plate. By educating the public about what's possible and necessary, the Plan has the real potential to start fixing America's energy problems, permanently. Frankly, I'm a lot more interested in taking direct action, like converting vehicles and developing new technologies, than talking about what needs to be done. A lot of the technology being discussed here has been around for years, but it's going to be the profit motive of free enterprise, and the realization that the days of gasoline-business-as-usual are over, that's going to get it implemented on a scale meaningful to the survival of the country.
- What do you want to do to help?
- Whatever I can. I have a broad knowledge of the nuts and bolts of alternative energy, and I have a single seat urban commuter vehicle in development that I think is ideally suited to help raise public awareness of CNG as a viable fuel. Although I designed it in 1984 to run on gasoline, after I saw a FuelMaker displayed at a high-end home show in the early 90s, I've been sold on CNG. It's important to realize that the FuelMaker lets the existing natural gas home delivery piping network serve as the automobile refueling infrastructure. Personally, I made efficient use of energy a central part of my own life years ago. My household ( including a full machine shop) electricity bill rarely exceeds $60/month, because of simple strategies anyone can use. I'm converting one of my vehicles to dedicated propane. The car I use for primary transportation gets 40MPG plus, (significantly better that a Prius) and I saved it from the scrapyard because I saw its potential to return very good fuel economy. Besides conserving existing resources, it addresses total-life-cycle energy cost issues as well, which are largely forgotten when the public is urged to buy hybrids and electrics. And it only cost me $2000.
I currently work in the aviation industry, developing and implementing field repair procedures for composite (fiberglass, carbon, aramid, etc) aircraft, and besides engineering, I'm a skilled mechanic, fabricator, machinist and designer. I've successfully developed many solutions to difficult technical problems, and am available as a design, prototyping or production consultant.
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William (Bill?), what is your email address? Mine is dana.thomas@gmx.com. I am interested in what needs to be done for $60,000 to "finish the prototype". How much is already in the prototype? Clyde Dana Thomas
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