This Seattle inventor turned his Jeep into a hybrid. Now he wants to change the world

A Seattle engineer and startup founder, Don MacKenzie of the University of Washington, discussed how Blue Dot Motorworks is converting some Jeep models to hybrid use, challenging the conventional view that retrofits are rarely cost-effective. MacKenzie, who leads the Sustainable Transportation Lab, said research typically suggests older vehicles should be left to age out and be scrapped, because fewer miles driven can slow payback. He said Washington’s electricity cost structure can make conversions more viable, citing a Seattle rate of about 13 cents per kilowatt-hour versus under three cents in Chelan County, translating to roughly one cent per mile in Chelan compared with about four cents in Seattle. The project targets a “goldilocks zone” where payback is expected within two to three years, starting with fleet customers and then expanding to a 130-customer waitlist. The article also notes a policy shift: Washington’s 2035 zero-emission mandate became a non-enforceable target after federal action in 2025 reduced California’s enforcement authority.