Local firm unveils alternative-fuel motorcycle

The EcoOutlaw is a Victory-based motorcycle that uses waste heat energy from the engine to reform ethanol into a state that burns less fuel because of increased cylinder pressure, said Russ Gehrke, the company’s lead engineering specialist.

The company’s patent-pending technology, known as the Ethanol Reformer, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, said CEO Dale Wiley, noting that hydrocarbons are cut in half. Hydrocarbons are a precursor to ground-level ozone, a serious air pollutant in cities across the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

John Paul DeJoria, founder and creator of Paul Mitchell hair products and longtime auto aficionado, ordered the first EcoOutlaw in January. DeJoria also is the founder and owner of Patron tequila.

The $40,000 bike, which boasts significant speed and horsepower, is customized with chrome fixtures, arched exhaust pipes and a green flame job. DeJoria will lead the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota on his EcoOutlaw next month.

American Green Holdings officials believe the Ethanol Reformer will have a wider impact on motor vehicles equipped to run on ethanol-blended fuel.

“By capturing the engine’s wasted heat energy that would otherwise be lost, we are able to harness an untapped power source to dramatically increase vehicle power, performance and efficiency,” Gehrke said in a news release.

Read SBJ’s July 30 issue to learn more about American Green Holdings and the EcoOutlaw.[[In-content Ad]]