Tom Ogle was a young inventor who claimed to have created a device that could make any car run on vaporized fuel, achieving an astonishing 100 miles per gallon. His invention, dubbed the Oglemobile, attracted national attention and sparked controversy in the 1970s. However, his life was cut short in 1981, when he died of a suspected drug overdose at the age of 26. What was the real cause of his death? Was it an accident, a suicide, or a murder? And what happened to his revolutionary invention?
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The Oglemobile: A Breakthrough or a Hoax?
Tom Ogle was born in El Paso, Texas, in 1955. He dropped out of high school and worked as a mechanic at a local gas station. He had a passion for tinkering with cars and engines, and one day he accidentally discovered that he could run his lawnmower without a carburetor by using a vacuum line. He wondered if he could apply the same principle to a car engine and eliminate the need for a carburetor, which mixes air and fuel for combustion.
He experimented with various designs and finally came up with a device that consisted of a fuel tank with heating coils, a vapor separator, and a series of hoses and valves. He claimed that his device could vaporize gasoline and inject it directly into the engine cylinders, resulting in a more efficient and cleaner combustion. He also claimed that his device could work with any type of fuel, including alcohol or water.
He tested his device on a 1970 Ford Galaxie with a V8 engine and a 3-gallon fuel tank. He drove the car from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico, and back, covering almost 200 miles on just two gallons of gasoline. He repeated the test several times with different observers, including reporters from the El Paso Times and Popular Science magazine. He also demonstrated his device to engineers from Shell Oil Company and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
His invention drew widespread media attention and public interest. He was hailed as a genius and a hero by some, who saw his invention as a solution to the energy crisis and the environmental problems caused by fossil fuels. He was also offered millions of dollars by investors and corporations who wanted to buy or license his invention.
However, he also faced skepticism and criticism from others, who doubted his claims and accused him of fraud or deception. Some experts argued that his device violated the laws of thermodynamics and physics, and that it was impossible to achieve such high fuel efficiency with such a simple device. Some also suggested that he had tampered with the fuel gauge or the odometer of his car, or that he had hidden an extra fuel tank somewhere.
Ogle defended his invention and insisted that it was genuine and reproducible. He said that he had patented his device and that he was willing to share it with anyone who wanted to test it or use it. He said that he wanted to make his invention available to the public and not sell it to any corporation that would suppress it or exploit it.
The Shooting and the Overdose: An Attempted Murder or a Self-Destruction?
In 1978, Ogle sold the marketing rights of his invention to Advance Fuel Systems Corporation (AFSC), a Seattle-based company that promised to develop and distribute his device. However, the deal soon turned sour, as Ogle accused AFSC of breaching the contract and trying to steal his invention. He filed a lawsuit against AFSC and tried to regain control of his patent.
Meanwhile, Ogle’s personal life also deteriorated. He became addicted to alcohol and drugs, and suffered from depression and paranoia. He divorced his wife and lost custody of his daughter. He also faced financial troubles, as he owed money to various creditors and tax authorities.
On April 14, 1981, Ogle was shot in the stomach by an unknown assailant outside a bar in El Paso. He managed to drive himself to a police station and was taken to a hospital. He survived the shooting but refused to cooperate with the police investigation. He told the police that he did not know who shot him or why.
Some speculated that the shooting was related to his invention and that it was an attempt by someone who wanted to silence him or stop him from revealing his secrets. Others suggested that it was a random act of violence or that it was connected to his drug dealings or debts.
On August 18, 1981, Ogle was found dead in his apartment in El Paso. The official cause of death was ruled as an accidental overdose of alcohol and Darvon, a painkiller. However, some questioned the verdict and suspected foul play. They pointed out that Ogle had been revived three times by paramedics on his way to the hospital before he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Some believed that Ogle had committed suicide because he was depressed and hopeless about his situation. Others suspected that he had been murdered by someone who wanted to eliminate him or his invention. They argued that Ogle had been poisoned or injected with a lethal dose of drugs, and that his death was made to look like an accident.
The Legacy: A Lost Opportunity or a Continuing Inspiration?
After Ogle’s death, his invention faded into obscurity. His patent expired in 1992 and no one has been able to replicate or commercialize his device. His car and his prototype were reportedly stored in a warehouse in El Paso, but their current whereabouts are unknown.
Some consider Ogle’s invention as a lost opportunity and a wasted potential. They lament that his invention could have revolutionized the automotive industry and the energy sector, and that it could have benefited the society and the environment. They blame the greed and the corruption of the corporations and the government for suppressing or sabotaging his invention.
Others regard Ogle’s invention as a continuing inspiration and a challenge. They admire his creativity and his courage, and they seek to learn from his mistakes and his achievements. They hope to rediscover or improve his invention, or to find new ways to make cars more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly.
According to El Paso Times, Tom Ogle’s story is a tragic and mysterious one, that raises many questions and controversies. His invention remains a mystery and a legend, that fascinates and intrigues many people. His cause of death remains a mystery and a debate, that puzzles and provokes many theories. His legacy remains a mystery and a motivation, that inspires and challenges many innovators.
