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In the nineteen seventies, Tom Ogle accidentally discovered a way to make an engine run on its own fumes. He described messing around with a lawn mower, knocking a hole in its fuel tank, and putting a back vacuum line from the tank straight into the carburetor inlet. He let it run, and it kept running while the fuel level stayed the same, leading to excitement about the mower running without a carburetor and achieving tremendous efficiency. The mower ran for ninety-six straight hours.
After a few months of trial and error, Ogle replicated the invention with his own car. His 1970 Ford Galaxy initially got 11 miles per gallon, but after modifications it achieved 100 miles per gallon. In April 1977, Ogle drove the 4,000-pound car 205 miles on just two gallons of gas. Engineers inspected the car for hidden gas tanks and other gimmicks, but nothing was found; his technology allegedly worked, enabling the internal combustion engine to operate on fumes. He made the engine do what it was designed to do, effectively a version of Pogue's carburetor.
Ogle, then 24 years old, became an engineering sensation almost overnight. Oil companies, investors, and businessmen approached him with offers. Shell Oil offered him $25,000,000 cash for the design, but Ogle passed when he learned they intended to hide the invention forever. He stated, “I've always wanted to be rich, and I suspect I will be when this system gets into distribution, but I'm not gonna have my system bought up and put on the shelf.” Consequently, Ogle struck deals with investors who would let him control the invention and continue development, filed for and received a patent, and attracted attorneys, money, and resources. Then the United States Air Force showed interest.
Trouble followed. The SEC pursued him for violating securities laws, and the IRS pursued him for failing to pay back taxes. The ensuing months were a mess. Ogle’s wife left him and took their daughter. Investors fought for control of the patent, and on April 14, 1978, Ogle was shot by a stranger outside a bar. He survived the shooting, but later, on August 18, he went to a friend’s apartment, collapsed, and died. His death, involving painkillers and alcohol, was ruled an accidental overdose, though Ogle had no history of drug use. Friends, family, and his attorney claimed the death was a cover-up for murder.