Les Ryder Named EcoMotors VP, Engineering

ALLEN PARK, Mich., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- EcoMotors has named Les Ryder as its Vice President of engineering. Ryder worked for nearly 30 years at Ford Motor Company in engine development and manufacturing, with his most recent role being Chief Engine Engineer.  His long career gave him broad experience in bringing engines into production.

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"As EcoMotors grows and we move the opoc® engine toward production, we are very fortunate to attract an executive of Les' stature and reputation to our company.  Les brings tremendous expansion and depth to our strength and experience in production engines," said Don Runkle, EcoMotors CEO. "Also, having Les on board will allow Prof. Hofbauer, our Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, to focus more energy developing our gasoline engine and to keeping our pipeline filled with other advanced propulsion system products."

During his long tenure at Ford, Ryder worked in virtually all aspects of engine development and production. He started as a design and development engineer, became a manager in manufacturing engineering, where he developed and implemented engine manufacturing plans and processes, then a manager in engine component design and production implementation. 

His next assignment was in research and advanced powertrain engineering, where his managerial responsibilities included the identification and development of powertrain technologies to meet future emissions and fuel economy requirements. In his last years at Ford, Ryder rose to the position of chief engineer, where he was responsible for design and performance development of all Ford engines in North America.

From Ford, Ryder moved to Roush Technologies where he was director of advanced powertrain engineering. He begins his position at EcoMotors early in 2012.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Ryder began his engineering career at the Environmental Protection Agency working on emission control technology, testing and certification prior to joining Ford.

"This is an exciting project and a wonderful challenge," said Ryder. "The opoc engine has tremendous potential as a positive game-changer in transportation. Helping to bring this ground-breaking engine into production is definitely a major highlight of my career."

About EcoMotors

Established in 2008, EcoMotors is changing the landscape of internal combustion power. Based in Allen Park, Mich., EcoMotors is commercializing the unique opoc® engine for use in cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, aerospace, marine, agriculture, auxiliary power units, generators, etc. Anywhere conventional gas or diesel power is currently utilized, opoc® represents a better propulsion solution.

The two primary investors in EcoMotors are Khosla Ventures and Bill Gates.  Khosla Ventures, based in Menlo Park, California, offers venture assistance, strategic advice and capital to entrepreneurs. The firm currently manages over $2 billion in committed capital, and is actively investing out of a $1.05 billion main fund that supports early- and late-stage companies and a $300 million seed fund to develop very early-stage experiments.  The firm focuses on investments in next-generation energy projects, new materials, mobility, Internet and silicon technology. Vinod Khosla, who founded the firm in 2004, was founder and CEO of Sun Microsystems and was formerly a General Partner at Kleiner Perkins.

www.ecomotors.com

SOURCE EcoMotors International