At a time when heavy-duty internal combustion is frequently castigated in the shadow of zero-emission all-electric and fuel cell powertrains, a leading non-profit clean transportation group is lavishing praise on an oil burner that has shown the ability to meet the nation’s toughest emissions standards six years ahead of schedule.
Emissions-minded CALSTART, based in Southern California with locations in Colorado, Florida, Michigan and New York, recently heralded the impressive emissions gains of a 10.6-liter opposed-piston engine from Achates Power, which will soon hit the road in a Walmart fleet truck.
The Ultra-Low NOx Heavy-Duty Truck Demonstrator program is part of California Climate Investments. CALSTART is managing the project, which includes collecting and analyzing emissions and performance data in a Peterbilt 579 that’s been equipped with the innovative and cost-minded two-stroke that’s designed to replace 13- and 15-liter four-stoke diesels that may prove too pricey for some fleets to upgrade to meet 2027 emissions standards.
Results from dynos in San Diego and Detroit, along with a test mule 579 in Denton, Texas, have left CALSTART cheering for cleaner internal combustion as fleets consider more sustainable powertrain solutions.
During a recent online presentation focusing on the Achates 10.6-liter and its upcoming demo program scheduled to take place in Southern California from July through September, CALSTART Executive Vice President Bill Van Amburg called the engine “the cleanest combustion, lowest carbon combustion engine in the world.”
Though the tall 10.6-liter can achieve the California Air Resource’s Board ultra-low NOx standard of 0.02 grams per brake horsepower hour and meet EPA’s 2027 CO2 requirement, Amburg pointed out that it was still viewed as a bridge to zero emissions.
“At the end of the day, our goal is zero emissions and zero carbon but it’s a long pathway there and we need all the tools in the tool chest to get there, and that’s why we’re so excited about this heavy-duty opposed-piston engine project,” he said. “It’s showing tremendous results. Better than we first thought.”
