Engine maker gets big order, bigger backer

By BOB KRUMM

Publisher

For HP2g - a new and relatively unknown company in Wauseon - events are beginning to accelerate toward the speedy launch of its 110 m.p.g. super engine. The company, which opened offices here only a few weeks ago, is garnering nationwide interest resulting in partnerships with an Indiana-based firm that will retrofit existing vehicles with the engine and with the world's largest producer of ethanol, based in South Dakota.

Developer Doug Pelmear, who also holds several patents on the revolutionary engine, expects to be in production in about 120 days, he said last week. He also announced that besides an initial production run of 10,000 engines, there are 312,000 new orders pending.

While declining to reveal specifics about these orders, Pelmear said production on such a large scale is something he did not expect this soon. "To complete this order would take a site comparable to the size of the Honda plant in Marysville," he said. As a result, he is negotiating with major manufacturers to begin production to meet these orders.

Parts will be produced by manufacturers in Defiance, Williams, Henry and Fulton counties, he explained, adding, "this will put people to work everywhere." Pelmear said, "Assembly will begin in Wauseon, but we are also looking at other avenues including the Big 6 (automakers)."

Automakers are interested because they have unused production capacity, a result of the recession and weak auto sales.

He said engine blocks for the initial run are now sitting on a line getting machined.

"People are volunteering to help us... they believe in this... they know these (engines) are needed," he stated. He said there are about 25 volunteers including a doctor in bio-sciences. HP2g also has an offer of assistance from Northwest State College.

New partner announced

Last week, the CEO of POET Energy, the world's largest producer of ethanol, met with Pelmear. As a result of the meeting Pelmear announced a partnership with that company, forged during the meeting with Poet Energy's CEO, Jeff Broin at the HP2g Engine Manufacturing Facility in Wauseon.

"Poet Energy is excited about finding an American-made engine that runs exclusively on ethanol fuels. The HP2g engine runs on clean burning E85 fuel, a renewable source grown by farmers right here in the U.S.A.!" Pelmear said.

POET Energy has been in business for 20 years. It out-produces its nearest competitor nearly two-to-one, according to the company's Web site. It employs over 1,500 people at 26 plants, located in seven states, including a new plant in Leipsic, Ohio. It has offices in Sioux Falls, S.D. and Wichita, Kan.

"This is the next step in freeing the U.S. to a greener environment," Pelmear said, adding, "This truly is the start towards Independence Day!"

Also partnering with HP2g is Revenge Designs, Inc. CEO and President Peter Collorafi. Revenge Designs is located near the Ohio border in Decatur, Ind. Collorafi's firm will be installing the engines. "Doug (Pelmear) doesn't want to build cars, we don't want to build engines," he explained.

Collorafi wants to construct a new installation facility in Ohio. One potential site under consideration is near Van Wert. However, Collorafi plans operating 150 installation centers around the country. In a phone interview last Friday, Collorafi said he is currently negotiating on three sites, each, in California, Arizona and Nevada, and two in Florida.

"We are speaking with freight companies and others who would like to retrofit their vehicles with engines that can get 110 m.p.g.," he said. He also sees his company's future in family cars.

The average family drives about 8,000 miles a year. At a current average cost of $2.50 per gallon they would spend only about $181 per year for fuel.

If successful, the collaboration of HP2g, POET Energy, Revenge Designs, Inc., and others, to produce and install the revolutionary internal-combustion, could literally change the world.