Our Team
Thermo-Charge is a cleantech startup company based on 20 years of independent pioneering research by our founder.
We are a small 2-person team based in California and Ukraine, and hire numerous engineering and business subcontractors in Ukraine where we have been operating for since 2004.
Our Journey
In 2002, as the World started taking carbon emissions seriously, our founder, David Onstenk, left his mechanical engineering role at Hewlett Packard and embarked on a journey to develop
low-carbon energy recycling hybrid powertrains for pickups and trucks which could cut on-road transportation carbon emissions in half, and eliminate diesel air pollution. Over the next two decades he mixed Masters and PhD studies with bootstrapping, leading a small team of engineers in Odesa, Ukraine, and earning multiple scholarships and grant awards to fund the research.
​
In 2013, John Shearing joined us to support efforts in England and Ukraine. The technologies were positively reviewed under long-term non-disclosure agreements by over two dozen leading experts in the U.S. and Europe, including three of the World's largest automotive engineering companies. We teamed with numerous leading universities and industry companies on research grant proposals.
​
In 2018, David achieved a major breakthrough in his PhD research, solving centuries-old questions in engine thermodynamics on how to understand, maximize and define the efficiency limits of thermal energy conversion, energy recycling and heat recovery: arguably the most significant discoveries in engine thermodynamics in over a century.
During this PhD research he developed, simulated and analyzed a 2.0 liter Thermo-Charged range extender design for electric semi truck markets estimated to achieve over 60% fuel efficiency without heat recovery, significantly higher than any fuel cell, engine or hybrid powered vehicle, and much higher than the World's electric grids. He registered his thesis in spring 2024.
​
In 2025, we plan to raise our first round of equity crowdfunding in the U.S. to build and test first prototypes of our next-generation energy recycling system, and develop our team, partners, suppliers and customers.​