WARRENVILLE, Ill. – Navistar International Corp. (NYSE: NAV) reached a development agreement with EcoMotors International in support of the company's opoc (Opposed Piston-Opposed Cylinder) engine architecture. EcoMotors International's first product targeted for commercial application is a turbo-diesel version of the innovative opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder engine.
EcoMotors' patented engine design creates an internal-combustion engine architecture that will operate on a number of different fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas and ethanol. The opoc's new opposed piston-opposed cylinder direct gas exchange operation provides the well known emissions benefits of four-cycle engines, the simplicity benefits of two-cycle engines, the power density of the less well known opposed piston engine, and the extraordinary developments in electronics and combustion technology all tied together in a new and proprietary engine architecture.
The opoc engine comprises two opposing cylinders per module, with a crankshaft between them—each cylinder has two pistons moving in opposite directions. This innovative design configuration eliminates the cylinder-head and valve-train components of conventional engines, offering an efficient, compact and simple core engine structure. The result is an engine family that is lighter, more efficient and economical, with lower exhaust emissions.
EcoMotors' opoc engine has a number of distinct advantages over traditional internal combustion engines. The opoc engine has very high power density of nearly one horsepower per pound resulting in an unprecedented lightweight and compact engine. The opoc engine is perfectly balanced enabling stackable power modules. This unique modular displacement capability is one of the long standing, but elusive goals of engine engineers' quest for high efficiency. In addition, it also results in much less NVH than a conventional engine of comparable power. It's simple design allows for low cost, efficient manufacturing and increased operating durability:
- 50% fewer parts than a conventional engine
- Straightforward assembly
- No cylinder heads or valve-train
- Uses conventional components, materials and processes
"Consistent with our leadership strategy, Navistar continues to seek innovative products which differentiate us from the marketplace, while others embrace the status quo," said Eric Tech, president, Navistar Engine Group.
The internal combustion piston engine has been the primary means of automotive propulsion for more than a century. Today, thousands of engineers around the world are hard at work trying to improve this 19th century invention. Some are striving to make incremental gains; some are hoping for a breakthrough. For all of them, one measuring stick is the "acid test" for any engine—power density. As greater power density is achieved, a range of critically important attributes will result, including:
- Lower weight
- Smaller size
- Lower material costs
- Lower friction
- Greater fuel efficiency
- Lower emissions
- Lower heat rejection
EcoMotors' intellectual property also includes an electrically controlled turbocharger technology which incorporates an electric motor in the turbo assembly to regulate boost pressure resulting in a list of unique advantages:
- Improved combustion efficiency to meet emissions
- Electrically controlled variable compression ratio
- Improved vehicle fuel economy
- Enhanced vehicle drivability due to improved low-end torque
- Eliminates Turbo lag
- Waste heat recovery by generating electricity
The development in clutch technology enables customers to take advantage of the engine's modular displacement capability. The clutch assembly is housed between two engine modules, and is engaged when vehicle power demands require both modules to deliver power. When the power of the second module is not needed, the clutch is disengaged, allowing the second engine to stop completely. This not only improves fuel economy dramatically by reducing parasitic losses, but also improves the efficiency of the primary module.
"Our development agreement with EcoMotors once again demonstrates our commitment to develop new, innovative approaches to the commercial vehicle industry," said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our company has a long history of pushing the envelope to deliver state-of-the-art, customer-focused solutions and we see great promise in EcoMotors' breakthrough engine design."
Khosla Ventures' Vinod Khosla, EcoMotors primary investor along with Bill Gates, sees the Navistar-EcoMotors alliance as a reflection of the disruptive nature of the opoc technology.
"We are delighted that Navistar, a global leader in the commercial vehicle industry, has recognized the game-changing promise of opoc," said Khosla. "The only truly disruptive technologies are those that can provide not only rapid payback but also economic and carbon benefits to large segments of the world's population without the need for subsidies or massive infrastructure investments. Among next-generation propulsion systems, the opoc engine is broadly applicable and can provide lower carbon emissions than almost any other technology."
"EcoMotors is proud to partner with Navistar to commercialize the revolutionary opoc engine," said Don Runkle, CEO with EcoMotors. "For customers such as Navistar, this remarkable engine technology represents a competitive advantage that enables not only enhanced environmental sustainability, but also greater profitability. Our engineers are working to effectively rejuvenate the internal combustion engine for the 21st century."
Based in Allen Park, Mich., EcoMotors (established in 2008) is commercializing the opoc engine for use in cars, light trucks, commercial vehicles, aerospace, marine, agriculture, auxiliary power units, generators, etc. The two primary investors in EcoMotors are Khosla Ventures and Bill Gates. Khosla Ventures offers venture assistance, strategic advice and capital to entrepreneurs. The firm helps entrepreneurs extend the potential of their ideas in breakthrough scientific work in clean technology areas such as solar, battery, high efficiency engines, lighting, greener materials like cement, glass and bio-refineries for energy and bio-plastics, and other environmentally friendly technologies as well as traditional venture areas like the Internet, computing, mobile and silicon technology arenas. Vinod Khosla founded the firm in 2004 and was formerly a General Partner at Kleiner Perkins and founder of Sun Microsystems. Khosla Ventures is based in Menlo Park, California.
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. The company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.
