Over the years, research has been done by groups of scientists and engineers into the viability of biofuels, but the origin of the biofuel is a long and mechanical one.
- Samuel Morey
- Career Path: Mechanics and Chemistry
- Research Philosophy: Positivism
- Significant Invention: The First Internal Combustion Engine
- Relation to Interest: Morey’s engine ran on a combination of alcohol and turpentine; a precursor to later ethanol fuels.
- Legacy: While Samuel Morey never got the spotlight he hoped for, he stands out for having made a biofuel long before the term even existed.
- Nikolaus Otto
- Career Path: Engineer
- Research Philosophy: Positivism
- Significant Invention: The First Commercially Practical Four-Stroke Internal Combustion Engine
- Relation to Interest: The Otto engine utilized the easily obtainable and untaxed alcohol used in spirit lamps in Europe, making the engine run near purely on ethanol.
- Legacy: Nikolaus Otto developed an engine that could run on ethanol. In modern times, that would have been incredible if it was able to compete with other engines and still use this combination of materials.
- Henry Ford
- Career Path: Machinist
- Research Philosophy: Positivism
- Significant Invention: The Ford Model T Automobile
- Relation to Interest: The Model T was developed as the first flexible fuel automobile, as it could run on many different substances, including ethanol.
- Legacy: Henry Ford built for the sake of building, and his flexible fuel automobile was ahead of its time. He would have loved to know that he was ahead of the race for alternative fuels
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