What's New

30th Anniversary Coast-to-Coast Run

ECON has recreated ECAR, the original wood-powered automobile. ECON 5, the biomass gasification-powered truck, is tentatively planning to make another "cross country" trip this year.

The wood-gas system involves the coupling of a wood reactor with a 1994 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck as a workable alternative to petroleum consumption. The wood gas generated by the reactor is of sufficient quality to power the engine.

The latest system will power any standard internal combustion engine – diesel or gasoline. The unit weighs about 300 pounds and will easily fit into most standard pickup trucks. A device is bolted to the top of the standard carburetor to allow both wood gas and gasoline operation. No modification to the engine is necessary.

ECON 5 is carbon-neutral as it is simply releasing carbon back into the atmosphere from where it came. Normal decay of a dead tree or waste wood products would do the same.