Jetcar

In 1998, brothers Christian Wenger-Rosenau and Michael Wenger initiated the development of the Jetcar. Their vision was to create an energy-efficient, lightweight vehicle with exceptional fuel economy. To achieve this, they incorporated a lightweight steel frame, a reinforced plastic body, and a small-displacement diesel engine. The first prototype, Jetcar 1, was completed in 2000 and underwent testing with both electric and fuel cell propulsion systems.

When running on diesel, the car consumed approximately 2 liters per 100 kilometers, while the electric drive required about 6 kWh per 100 kilometers. Concurrently, they worked on an even more fuel-efficient test vehicle known as Jetcar 1.5. This model featured the same body and an 8 kW diesel engine, weighing 390 kg, and achieved around 1.5 liters of diesel consumption per 100 km. Although these vehicles were roadworthy, they couldn't be registered due to lacking certain safety features, such as a safety glass windshield.

In 2001 and 2002, the automotive development department expanded with the addition of four employees. They further advanced the initial development stage of the Jetcar, resulting in the current model, Jetcar 2.5. The first approved Jetcar 2.5 was showcased at the IAA 2003 in Frankfurt am Main, leading to an increase in custom orders for similar passenger cars with petrol and diesel engines.

In 2009, Jetcar-Elektro, an all-electric version based on the Jetcar 2.5, underwent testing. The electric model, powered by a standard lithium-ion battery, achieved a range of over 200 km, emitted zero CO2 (provided green electricity was used), and ran almost silently. It offered engine variants ranging from 30 to 125 kW and became available for purchase since February 2010.

Future plans included the availability of convertible versions for both diesel and electric Jetcars. The company's philosophy dictated a shift away from petrol engines, prioritizing the responsible use of energy resources.

Christian Wenger-Rosenau and Michael Wenger had a long-standing interest in alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. Christian Wenger-Rosenau had been involved in designing and building small wind turbines since 1988, and together, they had been planning wind farms in northern Brandenburg since 1995.

With the establishment of Windenergie Wenger-Rosenau GmbH in 2001, the development of the Jetcar continued under this company's banner before being eventually taken over by Jetcar Zukunftsfahrzeug GmbH. The latter now manufactures and sells a limited edition of up to 100 Jetcar vehicles at their site in Neuruppin, Brandenburg.