You know things are looking up for the eco-friendly auto industry when king of the world Bill Gates is planning to invest in hybrid technology.

Reportedly, Gates appears as a principal applicant on a patent published last week for an electromagnetic combustion engine, a machine that would have pistons while burning fuel ignited by spark plug, but would be aided by electromagnets to speed up the recovery process, negating the need for alternating pistons. As Fast Company puts it, the new technology is possibly a blueprint for a “hybrid engine without the need for two discrete drivetrains, as with today’s hybrids.”

With consumers being lured by a new $7,500 tax incentive being offered for buying hybrid vehicles, it’s no wonder that Gates, who is always savvy with his investments, is looking to score a piece of the hybrid pie and help find new ways to develop the technology while he’s at it.