Creating a Sustainable Transportation  & Energy Vision for the 21st Century

www.AltWheels.org

 

JORY SQUIBB

AltWheels Regional Hero: Producing a light car for local use

 
Jory Squibb poses in the driver’s seat 
of his Moonbeam three-wheel microcar.
  
 

Home: Camden, ME

·   Current roles: Handyman; inventor of the "Moonbeam" three-wheel microcar.

· Greening work: "In September 2005, I became frustrated while filling my Toyota's gas tank. I thought, ‘There must be a way to make a light car for local use, possibly using motor-scooter parts.’ I took time off from my handyman job, and spent 1,000 hours in my garage, learning many new skills. This June, ‘Moonbeam’ emerged and has been driven every day since. It weighs 400 pounds, costs $2,500 in materials and gets 85-100 miles per gallon." Moonbeam holds two adults who get along well -- "it's kind of almost a romantic interlude" -- and has room in back for groceries, etc.

· Current project: Jory has already published the Moonbeam plans on his website for fellow enthusiasts to copy and is now working with a team of like-minded pioneers to develop a slightly larger and heavier vehicle. This one will have front-wheel drive, which more consumers will be able to use. The team’s immediate goal: to win the coveted Automotive X Prize for a marketable 100-mile-per-gallon car. The worldwide competition, sponsored by the X Prize Foundation, culminates in qualifying and grand-prize final races scheduled tentatively for late 2009.  At stake is a multi-million-dollar purse, to be split between the winning mainstream and alternative vehicles.

·   Inspiration: Goethe. "Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

 Impact of work: "I've taken Moonbeam  everywhere, including many alternative-vehicle expositions, and I've especially used it daily in our local towns. It inspires everyone to think small, think light.  It has inspired a group of us to explore building a slightly larger vehicle commercially."

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·   Economics of work: "Now that it's running, I fill up for $5 instead of $46 and can usually drive 150 miles or so between fill-ups." 

· Useful websites: www.moonbeamplans.com; www.xprize.com