Bioenergy: Refueling the Future

1832- Nicholas August Otto

Nicholas August Otto was born in Holzhausen, Germany 1832.  As a young man, he developed an interest in mechanical engineering and soon began experimenting with making gas engines.  [14.5]

Later on he became one of the first inventors to convince people to use ethanol as a fuel.   [14.6]

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1858- Rudolph Diesel

Rudolph Diesel was a German inventor born in Paris, France 1858.  By 14 he decided that he wanted to be an engineer.  Eventually, he graduated high school, college and graduate school at the top of his class.

Later on in life, Diesel published a book in German titled Theory and design of a rational thermal engine to replace the steam engine and the combustion engines known today (English translation).  In 1900, Diesel demonstrated his peanut oil fueled engine at the World Exhibition in Paris, France.  That engine and every after was then referred to as a Diesel Engine. [14.8]

 1863- Henry Ford

Born 1863 in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford enjoyed tinkering with machinery from a young age.  By 1903, Ford entered the automobile industry and started his own company called the Ford Motor Company.   While other companies produced automobiles as a luxury, Ford sought to make sturdy and affordable automobiles available for the growing middle class.  He succeeded and his company became the leading automobile manufacturer of his time.  [14.9]

He also created a factory that mass produced biofuels for his automotive line.  He believed that biofuels was the best way to run an automobile and he made sure that all the cars he produced ran on biofuel.   [14.8]

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