Challenge
Medium and heavy duty vehicles make up a relatively small proportion of road traffic, yet they present an outsized contribution to air pollution. Around the world, new regulations restricting emissions are being introduced in an attempt to improve air quality and population health, including standards coming into effect in California in 2027 that require all commercial diesel engines reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 90%.
Solution
Whilst combustion engines are still required by the demands of long-haul global trade, it is important to cut their emissions as much as possible. Achates Power has developed an opposed piston engine that substantially reduces emissions, whilst remaining suitable for commercial vehicle use. During the transition period needed to establish the energy infrastructure and other changes required for zero emissions, such modifications will help to quickly improve air quality.
Result
Achates Power successfully built and tested four 10.6L opposed-piston engines for the Heavy Duty Diesel Demonstration Programme, an initiative funded by various agencies in California. Measured results from the demonstrations show the engines achieving a 96% reduction in tailpipe NOx, a 75% reduction in engine-out particle matter compared to benchmark diesel engines, and a 7% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to U.S. regulatory standards.
Expanding impact
Results from the demonstration indicate that the technology would offer broad application, and the ability to meet the California Air Resources Board’s 2027 ultralow NO x regulations by a substantial margin.
Walmart will be piloting the engine in a Peterbilt 579 truck for their California operations later this year, and Achates Power is already working with a group of organizations to commercialize a heavy duty engine for series production in 2027.
Climate Investments case studies
Learn how our investments are helping to reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions and can recycle or store carbon dioxide.
Achates – Near-zero heavy duty diesel engine enters fleet service
The Californian Air Resources Board (CARB) has introduced regulations that require a 90% reduction in tailpipe NOx from commercial vehicles, starting in 2027.
GHGSat – Global methane detection at facility level
Methane is a potent, but odourless and colourless greenhouse gas, a combination that makes detecting leaks both very important and very hard.
XL: 23% improvement in fuel economy for Yale
Hybrid technology to reduce the carbon footprint of traditional buses without compromising vehicle performance
Solidia: Carbon eating concrete that lowers emissions from the production phase
By changing the chemistry of cement, Solidia has made concrete that outperforms traditional concrete, costs less, cures faster and has a 70% lower carbon footprint
SeekOps – Drone-based monitoring of methane emissions
Scalable methane detection techniques for on and offshore environments, that have shown results over five times more efficient than existing methods
bp – Mapping and capping methane emissions with Kairos Aerospace
Kairos Aerospace provides actionable data on major sources of methane emissions from aerial surveys.
Eni – Tackling fugitive emissions with Clarke Valve
Clarke Valve has developed a unique control valve that is low-cost and virtually eliminates fugitive methane emissions.
75F – Over 20% energy efficiency gains in a HOM showroom
Air temperature controls and smart sensors that self-optimize to make buildings more energy efficient, saving money and lowering emissions
Norsepower – Harnessing wind power to clean up modern shipping
Large mechanical sails installed on the Maersk Pelican tanker record annual saving equivalent to approximately 1,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The evolution of Net Zero Teesside
Getting a CCUS hub off the ground requires a commercial concept, funding, policies and regulations, community support, subsurface expertise and lots of patient work.
