Achates’ demonstrates up to 20% efficiency improvement v. today’s engines while meeting 2027 ultra-low NOx standards with today’s aftertreatment
May 20 2024 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Achates Power, Inc. (API) showcased at ACT Expo what has
been demonstrated as the cleanest and most efficient internal
combustion engine (ICE) architecture to date. Demonstrations have
proven ability to satisfy regulatory requirements without detriment
to the fleets or economy.
“In pursuit of clean technology, it’s critical to place priority
on the fleets and drivers. Technology-forcing regulations with
uncertainty on infrastructure, cost, and capability to ‘do the job’
make it difficult to navigate this energy transition,” said Dave
Crompton, CEO of API.
“For the first time, an ICE architecture has been simultaneously
proven to reduce NOx, beat the most stringent regulations proposed
with margin to spare, and improve real world fuel economy by as
much as 20%, while demonstrating extended life compliance.”
API demonstrated the opposed-piston (OP) architecture is capable
of using today’s aftertreatment systems to meet tomorrow’s
ultra-low NOx emissions standards with robust compliance through
the 800,000 mile useful life requirements. Low-load, idle, and
off-cycle emissions capability positions this to be the best
combustion technology in the industry.
Stringent emissions regulations in commercial trucking are to a
point where aftertreatment systems’ cost and complexity may drive
truck costs higher, reliability lower, and penalize fuel economy.
In a joint demonstration with CALSTART and Walmart, an API 10.6
liter engine was retrofitted into a production class 8 truck to
meet the proposed 2027 ultra-low NOx emissions standard and with an
off-the-shelf current production one-box aftertreatment system.
Testing in California achieved up to 10.8 mpg on a 389 mile
delivery route averaging 10% better fuel economy than baseline with
the advantage increasing to 22% on some routes.
In February at Argonne National Laboratory, the Department of
Energy began testing an API engine utilizing hydrogen combustion
with compression ignition. The simplicity of this design enables an
easier transition to hydrogen combustion over 4-stroke
concepts.
In joint testing with renewable diesel producer Neste, the
already proven 10% greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction of the
OP engine was amplified when using R99. Testing resulted in 4-5%
GHG emissions reduction compared to fossil diesel across all test
cycles - the lowest GHG level API measured to-date.
Benefits of the API engines include lower heat rejection, higher
power density, and fewer moving parts for better reliability and
increased fuel efficiency. Every stroke is a power stroke,
providing optimal thermal efficiency. This matters to fleets for
2027 and beyond emissions regulations where thermal management
impacts aftertreatment cost, simplicity and functionality.
API technology is obtainable without the use of exotic
materials, non-conventional manufacturing, or complex
aftertreatment systems - making it a ‘now’ solution for the
fleets.
“API has demonstrated that its technology can be put into
practical use without the added complexity, cost and reliability
concerns associated with stretching conventional engines and
emission systems to meet the future low NOx and CO2 limits, and
without the need for a fleet to redesign routes around
shorter-range vehicles and sparse refueling/recharging
infrastructure,” said Dr. John Wall, Board of Directors, API and
former Cummins CTO. “For fleets that ultimately want to reach
zero-net-carbon emissions, including renewable diesel and hydrogen,
the Achates technology is a good match."
This architecture can be manufactured through sustainable
assembly practices and with approximately 300 fewer parts compared
to today’s 4-stroke engines. Materials can be procured through
today’s supply chain efficiently supporting the manufacturing of
this engine architecture without sourcing disruptions and
constraints.
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Steve Sanders 812.390.0877 steve@stephensanders.co