OP engine developer Achates Power closes $29.8M Series D; OGCI Climate Investments comes onboard
27 October 2017
Achates Power, the developer of next-generation two-stroke compression-ignition opposed-piston (OP) engines (earlier post) announced that OGCI Climate Investments has invested in the company’s Series-D round. This investment closes the Series-D offering through which Achates Power has raised $29.8 million to accelerate the company’s growth, commercialization and continued technology development.
The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), is a CEO-led initiative of 10 oil and gas companies that collaborate on action to lead the industry response to climate change. OGCI Climate Investments, its billion-dollar investment arm, supports the development, deployment and scale up of new technologies that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
OGCI Climate Investments aims to catalyze the deployment of technology that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a significant scale. We’re pleased to be supporting Achates Power as they develop this pioneering technology, which has the potential to revolutionize the internal combustion engine market and make a substantial impact on transport emissions.
—Dr Pratima Rangarajan, CEO of OGCI Climate Investments
The Achates Power Opposed-Piston Engine is a two-stroke, compression ignition engine, engineered to achieve superior thermal efficiency by virtue of its lower heat losses, improved combustion and reduced pumping losses. It has proven industry-best fuel economy gains of up to 30 percent and significant emissions reductions.
According to a recent SAE paper—“Developing a 55% BTE Commercial Heavy-Duty Opposed-Piston Engine without a Waste Heat Recovery System,”—these gains can have a direct and multiplied impact on the heavy-duty vehicle market.
At Achates Power, we are committed to continuing to advance the high-efficiency and low-emissions capabilities of the Opposed-Piston Engine and to bring it to market. With the support of OGCI Climate Investments and our investors, we are better positioned to reach our goals. This investment will help us continue to develop and commercialize the most efficient, clean, and practical engine possible.
—David Johnson, president and CEO, Achates Power
To respond to a growing list of customers, Achates Power has more than 100 employees in two locations: San Diego and metro-Detroit. In addition to continued research and development, the company has engine development programs underway, including:
The development of an engine for a light-duty truck demonstration vehicle, which will surpass the United States 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets. The vehicle will debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, in Detroit.
The Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) project, a $47-million contract led by Cummins Corporate Research and Technology, which is a key component of the Army’s 30-year strategy to modernize tactical and combat vehicles, with potential for future production configurations being used in the Bradley Family of Vehicles (BFoV) and the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV).
A $9-million award from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop an Opposed-Piston, gasoline compression ignition engine, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and Delphi Automotive.
Development and commercialization of Trident OP engines with Fairbanks Morse for use in large-scale stationary power applications.
Since inception in 2004, Achates Power has secured more than $136 million in investor funding and has established its market leading position with more than 200 issued patents and more than 200 pending patent applications. Achates Power continues to innovate and to support their customers to realize production and market adoption of clean efficient OP Engines.
Resources
Abani, N., Nagar, N., Zermeno, R., Chiang, M. et al., “Developing a 55% BTE Commercial Heavy-Duty Opposed-Piston Engine without a Waste Heat Recovery System,” SAE Technical Paper 2017-01-0638 doi: 10.4271/2017-01-0638
"The development of an engine for a light-duty truck demonstration vehicle, which will surpass the United States 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets. The vehicle will debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, in Detroit."
WOW! That's next January. I had been planning to buy a atchisen cycle plug in hybrid (Niro) next Jan. Now I'm going to wait and evaluate if I should wait for a OPGCI based plug in.
Posted by: charlesH | 30 October 2017 at 09:11 PM
Looks very promising. I'm holding off buying a new car to see if I can get this engine. Hopefully in a year or two.
"The vehicle will debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, in Detroit."
That's just two months from today! Probably a pickup?
1) "To respond to a growing list of customers, Achates Power has more than 100 employees in two locations: San Diego and metro-Detroit. In addition to continued research and development, the company has engine development programs underway, including:
The development of an engine for a light-duty truck demonstration vehicle, which will surpass the United States 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) targets. The vehicle will debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, in Detroit.
The Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) project, a $47-million contract led by Cummins Corporate Research and Technology, which is a key component of the Army’s 30-year strategy to modernize tactical and combat vehicles, with potential for future production configurations being used in the Bradley Family of Vehicles (BFoV) and the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV).
A $9-million award from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop an Opposed-Piston, gasoline compression ignition engine, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and Delphi Automotive.
Development and commercialization of Trident OP engines with Fairbanks Morse for use in large-scale stationary power applications."
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2017/10/20171027-achates.html
2) According to this presentation, in 2016 Achates had the following programs underway: 5 truck, 3 car, US Army, Fairbanks Morse.
Also a DOE funded OPGCI project:
“Opposed Piston Gasoline Compression Ignition (OPGCI)
$9 Million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E
With support from Argonne National Laboratory and Delphi Automotive
Develop a three-liter, three-cylinder opposed-piston gasoline compression ignition engine
Two clean, efficient and cost effective technologies – OP and GCI – together will make the perfect high-volume engine for markets all around the world.
Fuel efficiency gains of more than 50 percent compared to a downsized, turbo-charged direct injection gasoline engine
Reduces the overall cost of the powertrain system”
https://societyofautomotiveanalysts.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Achates%20Power%20SAA%20Outlook_01102016.pdf
3) “Achates is working with Delphi Automotive (which has been avidly pursuing gasoline compression ignition for some time) and Argonne National Laboratory on the ARPA-E-funded project to develop the OPGCI engine. (Earlier post.)
ARPA-E is providing initial funding of $9 million to this project over three years; Achates Power, Argonne and Delphi expect to spend a total of $13 million on the program, including cost share. The $9-million award was “one of the largest single ARPA-E awards ever made,” noted Chris Atkinson, the ARPA-E program manager for the Achates project.
The goal of the 30-month Achates ARPA-E project is to deliver a three-cylinder, 3.0-liter opposed-piston, gasoline compression ignition engine applicable to large passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks, SUVs and minivans. It could also be the first of a family of OPGCI engines spanning 1.0 to 4.0L displacements, said Redon.
The smaller displacement derivative (1.0L) could be extremely interesting as a range extender, while a two-cylinder derivative could serve nicely as a direct drop-in for front-wheel drive applications, delivering around 180 hp and 430 N·m from a swept volume of 1.8 liters.”
[FYI 433 nm = 319 ft lb!]
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2017/01/20170113-achates.html
Posted by: charlesH | 18 November 2017 at 11:13 AM