Zhongding Holding (Group) Co., Ltd. and Global Optima LLC Commit up to $18M to EcoMotors for OPOC Engine Development
18 May 2010
Zhongding Holding (Group) Co., Ltd., a large Tier 1 supplier, has signed a letter of intent to fund further development of EcoMotors’ opoc (opposed piston opposed cylinder) engine technology. (Earlier post.)
The agreement specifies that Zhongding Holding (Group) Co., Ltd. and Global Optima LLC, an engineering services company based in Allen Park Mich. with operations in the USA and a new technical center in Shanghai China, will commit up to $18 million of advanced engineering funding focused on the opoc technology, including refinement of the existing EM100D (100mm bore diameter) diesel engine, and development of a smaller gasoline/flex-fuel version, the EM65FF (65mm bore diameter). Global Optima is an international commercial partner of Zhongding.
Global Optima has also expressed the possibility of direct equity investment in EcoMotors. EcoMotors and Global Optima commit to cooperate with Zhongding with the intent of accelerating international commercialization of the opoc technology.
The opoc engine operates on the 2-cycle principle, generating one power stroke per crank revolution per cylinder. Each module consists of two opposing cylinders per module, with a crankshaft between them; each cylinder has two pistons moving in opposite directions. This design configuration eliminates the cylinder-head and valvetrain components of conventional engines, offering a more efficient, compact and simple core engine structure, the company says. The power density is more than 1 hp per pound of engine weight. The fully balanced opoc engine can be run on any liquid fuel.
The engine architecture—specifically, the ability to achieve true modular displacement—delivers up to 60% greater fuel efficiency, according to the company. With 50% fewer parts than a conventional engine, the opoc is less expensive to manufacture, to purchase and to operate.
We are confident that further development of the remarkable opoc technology will enable the new generations of clean, fuel efficient vehicles that car buyers expect and demand in the years to come.
—Xia Dinghu, the Chairman of the Zhongding Holding
"The engine architecture—specifically, the ability to achieve true modular displacement—delivers up to 60% greater fuel efficiency, according to the company. With 50% fewer parts than a conventional engine, the opoc is less expensive to manufacture, to purchase and to operate."
So, what's the catch?
Posted by: kelly | 18 May 2010 at 06:22 AM
Could also be a great ultra light weight basic engine for PHEV genset when mass produced at lower cost in C.... and/or I....?
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 May 2010 at 07:11 AM
The catch is no one in the U.S. was interested, but now the Chinese are. You can have great ideas, but if there is no money and no interest it goes nowhere.
Posted by: SJC | 18 May 2010 at 07:33 AM
SJC: Could it be that the local-national lack of interested in fuel efficient engines and vehicles + cheap fuel is responsible for the production of larger ICE gas guzzlers? Very few other countries have so many super heavy pick-ups on their roads. Why are we so convinced that we need a 3+ ton vehicle to drive to the corner store. One of those monster driver hit 6 competition cyclists (killed 3 and sent the other 3 to the hospital) on a four-lane local road lately. He did not even bother to use the left lane because he was assured not to get hurt by sending 6 cyclists flying in the air and then run over a few of them. His truck was not damaged much but he will claim for repairs to his fully chromed front end. He wouldn't have tried that with a smaller car.
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 May 2010 at 08:44 AM
It is called "freedom", cars have represented freedom since the beginning, it is not surprising that this has become a different kind of freedom over time. People on here were outraged over the idea that trucks should be used for work, it was the individual's "right" to chose any vehicle that they wanted, even if it was an earth mover.
Posted by: SJC | 18 May 2010 at 09:55 AM
I've seen this at a few SAE shows, its looks impressively simple, but I imagine it has an Achilles heel somewhere similar to why the Wankel engine hasn't caught on except in specific applications. It was meant to be a diesel engine and my personal hunch is that there is a fundamental issue with injecting fuel from the side of the chamber in between the pistons, instead of straight down as in conventional modern diesels.
Posted by: DC | 19 May 2010 at 01:28 PM
OPOC is nonsense. Who wants a 2-cylinder engine with six connecting rods? For the real deal see www.coxpowertrain.com
Posted by: David Cox | 19 May 2010 at 04:07 PM
@David Cox,
Your engine concept has 2 opposed cylinders and 4 pistons also. Does it not make it also an OPOC?
Though no connecting rod is shown in your engine. Does that means that the pistons are hydraulically fluid coupled to move against each other?, instead of using connecting rods?
Posted by: Roger Pham | 21 May 2010 at 05:31 PM
It is very hard to break in to the US automotive industry. The main reason is the government regulations and the other reason is the "not invented here" syndrome. The EV1 was introduced with lead-acid batteries made by GM instead of the more suitable lead acid OPTIMA batteries proven to work by AC propulsion in a prototype TZERO. GM could have also used the more suitable nickel cadmium batteries in the market.
OPOC should have rushed to China to make portable generators for use on construction sites. I would like tiny ones for lights in a RV. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 25 May 2010 at 01:44 PM