Hummers get nature-friendly

Biodiesel conversion specialist Jonathan Goodwin has developed his own methods to reconcile two factors that were once thought impossible to have both ways: Engine power and nature-friendliness.

To prove that, he showed off his H2 Hummer that runs 40 miles per gallon on every fossil fuel alternative in the market- ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel or natural gas. All of these pollute the environment in low or almost negligible levels.

Goodwin drew his inspiration to create green muscle cars from a fad that hit the mid to late 90s. During those times, electric cars were billed to replace the traditional models of vehicles. However, the models proved to be a short-lived novelty concept. Performance was just incomparable to ordinary vehicles and the electric cars stalled in cold weather. What’s more, the smoke these cars were not emitting didn’t really go away. They just transferred to the smokestacks of power plants.

“The first electric cars were like golf carts. You really had to be freakin’ altruistic to drive one of those things,” says Imperium Renewables CEO Marvin Tobias. “Tesla changed that by telling customers ‘You can have it all,” he adds.

To date, Goodwin has converted 60 H2 Hummers and 100 H1 Hummers are on the way. The results have been so good that his work will be featured in an upcoming “Pimp My Ride” episode on MTV. If you want to have your Hummer converted, however, you better come ready. The whole ordeal costs US$ 24,000 and takes a week to complete.

Biodiesel conversion specialist Jonathan Goodwin has developed his own methods to reconcile two factors that were once thought impossible to have both ways: Engine power and nature-friendliness.

To prove that, he showed off his H2 Hummer that runs 40 miles per gallon on every fossil fuel alternative in the market- ethanol, hydrogen, biodiesel or natural gas. All of these pollute the environment in low or almost negligible levels.

Goodwin drew his inspiration to create green muscle cars from a fad that hit the mid to late 90s. During those times, electric cars were billed to replace the traditional models of vehicles. However, the models proved to be a short-lived novelty concept. Performance was just incomparable to ordinary vehicles and the electric cars stalled in cold weather. What’s more, the smoke these cars were not emitting didn’t really go away. They just transferred to the smokestacks of power plants.

“The first electric cars were like golf carts. You really had to be freakin’ altruistic to drive one of those things,” says Imperium Renewables CEO Marvin Tobias. “Tesla changed that by telling customers ‘You can have it all,” he adds.

To date, Goodwin has converted 60 H2 Hummers and 100 H1 Hummers are on the way. The results have been so good that his work will be featured in an upcoming “Pimp My Ride” episode on MTV. If you want to have your Hummer converted, however, you better come ready. The whole ordeal costs US$ 24,000 and takes a week to complete.