In the 1970s, Mike Lowery made a prototype for a whimsical-looking amphibious vehicle with a design flaw that, decades later, seeded his idea for a cheap hydro-power generator.
His concept is called the Hydro-Electric Barrel, a floating water wheel that turns on top of a current to generate power using permanent magnet generators. Now, Lowery, a retired engineer and inventor, is looking for teams around the world to help develop prototypes.[3]
From beach craft to generator, the idea started with a prototype of a light oneseater amphibious vehicle for recreation or rescue. It placed a driver between three large, plastic spinning spheres. A pusher propeller scooted the thing along. Over land, it worked as planned, but over water, the spheres
His concept is called the Hydro-Electric Barrel, a floating water wheel that turns on top of a current to generate power using permanent magnet generators. Now, Lowery, a retired engineer and inventor, is looking for teams around the world to help develop prototypes.[3]
From beach craft to generator, the idea started with a prototype of a light oneseater amphibious vehicle for recreation or rescue. It placed a driver between three large, plastic spinning spheres. A pusher propeller scooted the thing along. Over land, it worked as planned, but over water, the spheres