Achates Power’s opposed-piston engine on the road with Walmart
Challenge
The Californian Air Resources Board (CARB) has introduced regulations that require a 90% reduction in tailpipe NOx from commercial vehicles, starting in 2027. With many governments moving in similar directions there is an urgency for commercial vehicle fleets to move toward net zero, and for the traditional fleet required during transition, to be as low emission as possible.
Solution
In a project funded by CARB and partners including South Coast Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District, Achates Power has developed an ultra low-NOx diesel engine that meets the stringent standards without requirement for any additional emissions control devices.
It is engineered to improve fuel efficiency by managing exhaust gas temperatures, improving combustion and reducing pumping losses. The heavy duty opposed piston engine maintains aftertreatment temperatures at optimum operating conditions in all driving conditions.
Result
Through California’s Heavy Duty Diesel Demonstration Programme, Achates Power built and tested four 10.6L engines, finding a 96% reduction in tailpipe NOx, a 75% reduction in engine-out particle matter against a diesel engine benchmark, and a 7% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to U.S. regulatory standards.
The Achates Power engine complies with the CARB’s NOx emissions regulations due to come into effect from 2027, and has entered fleet service with WALMART Corporation in a Peterbilt 579 tractor.
Expanding impact
The opposed-piston engine can be manufactured using existing facilities, processes, materials, components and supply chains, enabling rapid deployment. Without the need for any additional emissions control devices, cost, complexity, and compliance risk are reduced and the engine is expected to cost less than current engines.
Achates Power is conducting further testing with a fully aged catalyst (the equivalent of 800,000 miles of operation) to demonstrate continued ability to meet CARB’s stringent standards.
Climate Investments case studies
Learn how our investments are helping to reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions and can recycle or store carbon dioxide.
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.
