A few years ago, Doron Shmueli and his team set out to answer a deceptively simple question: What if an engine didn’t need fossil fuels at all?
It wasn’t theoretical. It wasn’t some moonshot decades away from commercialization. The MayMaan team was chasing something immediate – something they could build and deploy now. They weren’t aiming to disrupt electric vehicles or reinvent the power grid. They were focused on the millions of generators, heavy machinery, and off-grid power systems still running on diesel. That’s where they saw the opportunity.
“We wanted to harness the convenience and power of internal combustion without the environmental harm of fossil fuels,” Shmueli told Refresh Miami. “So we set out to eliminate that dependency.”
What came out of that mission is the AquaStroke engine, a patented combustion system that runs on a mix of 70% water and 30% bioalcohol. When the mixture ignites, the water turns to high-pressure steam, delivering power through a two-stage expansion process. The result? More energy output, far less heat, and emissions that come close to zero.
MayMaan’s technology sidesteps the biggest roadblocks plaguing other clean energy solutions. Hydrogen fuel needs special storage and transport systems. Batteries require rare minerals and a complete infrastructure overhaul. But MayMaan’s work with the existing infrastructure.
MayMaan’s generators are already out in the field. Their 35kW AquaStroke units are powering off-grid sites and serving as standby systems for commercial customers. “These deployments have validated our technology,” said Shmueli [pictured below]. “They’re clean, they’re cost-effective, and they’re reliable.”
Headquartered in Hollywood, the startup has found unexpected advantages in its location. Beyond the engineering talent, Shmueli asserted that Florida’s mix of industries and proximity to climate risk has given MayMaan a perfect launchpad.
“The region is rich in engineering talent, diverse energy demands (from marine to backup power), and is at the frontline of climate change.” The company currently has 20 employees in South Florida.
Instead of producing everything themselves, MayMaan is taking a partnership-first approach.
“We license our core AquaStroke technology to OEMs, energy companies, and government entities,” said Shmueli. “Our partners can integrate the technology into their existing systems or leverage our proprietary platforms to deliver clean combustion solutions.”
Looking ahead, the focus is on scaling its products, sectors, and markets.
“Over the next five years, we are focused on three priorities: scaling the commercial deployment of our 35kW generators across the U.S., Europe, and Asia; expanding into high-demand sectors, including EV charging infrastructure and data center power solutions; and securing strategic investment to enhance our R&D capabilities and accelerate the development of higher-output systems.”
And for Shmueli, the momentum is just getting started.
“What excites us most is the phase we’re entering: a period of accelerated growth, where we’re bringing our proven technology to new markets, forging powerful partnerships, and delivering real-world impact at scale.”
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