Phxt From Plastic Bottles to a Running Dodge: 22-Year-Old Genius Sparks an Energy Revolution
Julian Brown is a 22-year-old inventor based in Georgia who is turning plastic into fuel. His project is called Plastoline, and it uses a scientific method known as microwave pyrolysis, powered by solar panels. The process heats plastic until it becomes vapor, then cools it into crude oil that can be refined into gasoline, diesel or jet fuel. Julian began developing his own version of this system at 17 and built his first small reactor in high school.
On October 4, 2025, Julian started a 2023 Dodge Scat Pack and ran it entirely on Plastoline. He demonstrated it live at a Nissan dealership in Duluth, Georgia. The road hasn’t been easy, but Julian refuses to give up. Building these machines costs thousands of dollars, and some parts can reach tens of thousands. Grants have helped him keep improving his designs. Julian says he has tested his fuel and believes it burns cleaner than regular diesel.
Julian stated that he has faced cyberattacks and helicopters flying near his home but remains focused on his goal to help the planet. In high school, he saw a video of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose. The image broke his heart and made him realize how much plastic harms animals and the environment. Instead of looking away, he decided to act. In an interview with WTVM 9, Julian said, “I see it now as, let’s get it in the world and implemented. That’s the whole point of why I started this.”
