EcoMotors Secures $32.5m Third Funding Round for OPOC Green Engine
US start-up EcoMotors has raised $32.5 million in a third funding round to accelerate development of its opposed piston-opposed cylinder (OPOC) diesel engine, with backing from Bill Gates and venture capital firms.
EcoMotors International, the US-based engine start-up backed by Bill Gates, has secured $32.5 million in a third round of funding to support further development of its opposed piston-opposed cylinder (OPOC) diesel engine. The investment, announced on 10 July 2012, comes from existing backers Braemar Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Gates himself.
EcoMotors is developing the OPOC engine, a diesel unit that uses two pistons per cylinder and no cylinder head, aiming for substantial gains in efficiency and manufacturing cost. The company claims the engine could deliver between 15% and 50% better fuel economy compared to conventional diesels, and cost up to 20% less to produce. The engine is not designed for retrofitting to existing vehicles, but rather for new applications across a range of sectors.
Backing and partners
The latest funding round follows earlier investments from the same group of backers, with Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures supporting the project from its early stages. Braemar Energy Ventures, based in New York, continues to provide support as EcoMotors moves towards commercial viability. The company works with several major automotive suppliers, including BorgWarner (turbochargers), Federal-Mogul (pistons) and Bosch (injectors), to supply key engine components.
EcoMotors has also entered a joint agreement with BorgWarner to develop an electrically controlled turbocharger specifically for the OPOC engine. This partnership is intended to optimise the engine’s performance and emissions profile, which is central to the company’s pitch to both commercial and passenger vehicle manufacturers.
Potential customers and applications
The OPOC engine has attracted interest from several manufacturers. Illinois-based Navistar, known for its diesel engines and heavy trucks, and Wisconsin-based generator firm Generac are among the early customers. In China, Jiangling Motors is considering the OPOC for future passenger car models. The engine is positioned for use in any application requiring a new diesel engine, including trucks, generators and passenger vehicles.
- Navistar (diesel engines, trucks)
- Generac (generators)
- Jiangling Motors (Chinese passenger cars, under consideration)
The OPOC engine’s architecture is designed to be adaptable for a wide range of new vehicles, but EcoMotors confirms it cannot be retrofitted to existing engines or platforms. The company’s business model relies on licensing or supplying the technology to OEMs and industrial partners rather than direct vehicle sales.
Context in the green engine market
With the additional $32.5 million, EcoMotors aims to move the OPOC engine closer to commercial readiness, targeting both established and emerging markets for its green diesel technology.
