Achates Power is an American developer of opposed-piston,
two-stroke, compression ignition engines for use in commercial and passenger
vehicles. Based in San Diego ,
Calif.
According to Achates Power, its opposed-piston, two-stroke engine has demonstrated an increase in fuel efficiency and similar engine-out emissions levels when compared to the Ford Power Stroke engine, named one of the leading medium-duty diesel engines. More recently, the company published a technical paper citing a 30 percent fuel economy improvement when its engine was benchmarked against a next-generation diesel engine equipped with advanced technologies. The paper also highlighted the Achates Power engine's potential to meet Tier 3/LEV III emissions and 2025 CAFE.
In December 2012, the company announced that it had been selected as a subcontractor to AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc. to build the next-generation combat engine for the U.S. Army. Less than a year later, in October 2013, Achates Power and Fairbanks Morse Engine signed a joint development and licensing agreement to reduce emissions and fuel consumption of Fairbanks Morse proprietary and dual-fuel opposed-piston engines.
Achates Power is privately owned and backed by Serquoia Capital, RockPort Capital Partners, Madrone Capital Partners, Triangle Peak Partners and Interwest Partners.
The Achates Power opposed-piston engine is modeled after the opposed-piston architecture made popular by the Junkers Jumo 205/207 aviation engines developed in the 1930s. The design positions two pistons per cylinder—working in opposite, reciprocating motion. This eliminates parts including the cylinder head and valvetrain, improving overall engine efficiency as these components are considered primary contributors to heat and friction losses. The cylinder head and valvetrain systems are also among the most complex and costly elements of conventional engines. The two-stroke cycle compounds the efficiency benefits of the opposed-piston engine architecture. With this cycle, each combustion event is shorter in duration and, therefore, closer to optimum timing as compared to four-stroke engines. Two-stroke engines are also smaller in displacement and size compared to four-stroke engines for similar performance.
While development of historic opposed-piston engines ceased for use in on-road car and truck applications with the introduction of modern emissions standards, Achates Power says that it has patented many modifications to the original architecture in order to meet current standards.
According to Achates Power, its opposed-piston, two-stroke engine has demonstrated an increase in fuel efficiency and similar engine-out emissions levels when compared to the Ford Power Stroke engine, named one of the leading medium-duty diesel engines. More recently, the company published a technical paper citing a 30 percent fuel economy improvement when its engine was benchmarked against a next-generation diesel engine equipped with advanced technologies. The paper also highlighted the Achates Power engine's potential to meet Tier 3/LEV III emissions and 2025 CAFE.
In December 2012, the company announced that it had been selected as a subcontractor to AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc. to build the next-generation combat engine for the U.S. Army. Less than a year later, in October 2013, Achates Power and Fairbanks Morse Engine signed a joint development and licensing agreement to reduce emissions and fuel consumption of Fairbanks Morse proprietary and dual-fuel opposed-piston engines.
Achates Power is privately owned and backed by Serquoia Capital, RockPort Capital Partners, Madrone Capital Partners, Triangle Peak Partners and Interwest Partners.
Engine Architecture
The Achates Power opposed-piston engine is modeled after the opposed-piston architecture made popular by the Junkers Jumo 205/207 aviation engines developed in the 1930s. The design positions two pistons per cylinder—working in opposite, reciprocating motion. This eliminates parts including the cylinder head and valvetrain, improving overall engine efficiency as these components are considered primary contributors to heat and friction losses. The cylinder head and valvetrain systems are also among the most complex and costly elements of conventional engines. The two-stroke cycle compounds the efficiency benefits of the opposed-piston engine architecture. With this cycle, each combustion event is shorter in duration and, therefore, closer to optimum timing as compared to four-stroke engines. Two-stroke engines are also smaller in displacement and size compared to four-stroke engines for similar performance.
While development of historic opposed-piston engines ceased for use in on-road car and truck applications with the introduction of modern emissions standards, Achates Power says that it has patented many modifications to the original architecture in order to meet current standards.
= = = = = = = also discussed June 13, 2015, in Forbes at = = = = = = = http://www.forbes.com/sites/billvisnic/2015/06/13/should-tesla-worry-about-achates-reboot-of-1930s-technology/
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