opoc engine company EcoMotors closes US $32.5M Series C
10 July 2012
EcoMotors International, developer of the opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder opoc engine (earlier post), has completed its Series C round with a new investment totaling US$32.5 million, led by Braemar Energy Ventures. Existing investors Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures also participated in the round. To date, EcoMotors has raised more than $66 million.
The funding will allow EcoMotors to expand its research and development capability in support of growing its intellectual property base and moving to the next stage of opoc diesel engine development with two important customers, Navistar and Zhongding Holding Group. The new capital will also enable EcoMotors to accelerate the creation of gasoline versions of opoc to meet increasing customer demand for cost effective fuel economy gains in cars, light trucks, hybrids, and extended range EVs.
Braemar Managing Director William D. Lese will join the EcoMotors Board of Directors.
EcoMotors is developing a multi-fuel family of engines, including diesel versions specifically for GenSet and commercial vehicle applications; gasoline versions; and a CNG version suited to leverage CNG’s fuel cost advantages while negating the traditional CNG issues of reduced power and range, and conversion costs.
The opoc architecture comprises 60% fewer components and far less mass than conventional engines. The balanced design results in smooth, quiet and virtually vibration-free operation.
Menlo Park-based Khosla Ventures was a founding investor in EcoMotors and was joined by Bill Gates, who led the Series B funding round, to continue supporting the company through the Series C funding.
A smaller version could eventually be appropriate for a lighter, lower cost, on-board genset for PHEVs and HEVs?
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 July 2012 at 07:54 AM
That is significant money, showing that there is real interest for their engines.
Posted by: Treehugger | 10 July 2012 at 09:21 AM
I presume that this investment is a waste of time, effort and money. They should have invested that money in R&D for FCs as range extenders.
Posted by: yoatmon | 10 July 2012 at 09:58 AM
Compare the OPOC of Bill Gates / Khosla / Braemar / EcoMotors with the PatOP opposed piston engine at http://www.pattakon.com/pattakonPatOP.htm
The PatOP basic unit is:
smaller and shorter,
more vibration free,
simpler with some 50% fewer parts.
The PatOP has way lower specific lube consumption ("like" 4-stroke lubrication) and provides some 20% additional time for the injection and the efficient combustion of the fuel.
The big issue EcoMotors has still to address? The lubrication of their OPOC engine. Otherwise the OPOC will be limited to special applications.
As for EcoMotors' "variable capacity", there are better, cheaper and more reliable ways to realize the same, as explained at http://www.pattakon.com/pattakonPatPOC.htm#VariableCapacity
Thanks
Manousos Pattakos
Posted by: manousos | 16 July 2012 at 02:45 AM