Heavy Duty Diesel Demo Program
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Heavy Duty Diesel Demo Program

Heavy Duty Diesel Demo Program

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Please join us to review the latest accomplishments of CALSTART’s Heavy-Duty Diesel Demonstration Program that uses the Achates Power Opposed-Piston Engine to sharply lower criteria emissions.

The review will discuss test results that confirm the engine’s ability to meet the California Air Resources Board’s 2027 ultra-low NOx emissions standards practically and cost-effectively. The Heavy-Duty Diesel Demonstration Program is funded by the CARB, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the Sacramento Metro Air Management District. On our journey to more sustainable transportation, diesel engines will continue to play a large role, particularly in long-haul transit.  Among the most impactful ways to rapidly improve air quality is to substantially eliminate criteria emissions from commercial vehicle diesel engines while also improving efficiency and reducing CO2.

For the demo program, Achates Power built and tested four 10.6L opposed-piston engines.  One engine is in a Peterbilt 579 truck in Denton, Texas, and will be and will be piloted by Walmart in their California operations later this year.  Engines have been tested on dynamometers at Achates Power in San Diego, CA and the Aramco Research Center-Detroit.  Southwest Research tested the after-treatment system in San Antonio, TX.

During this Program Review, you will see:
- Measured test results showing the ability of the engine design to meet CARB’s 2027 ultralow NOx requirements on FPT, RMC, and low load cycles and during idle.  This is accomplished with a conventional underfloor after-treatment system to substantially reduce the cost and complexity of compliance.

- Measured test results show the engine generates 7.2% less CO2 than the current EPA Greenhouse Gas II regulations for heavy-duty trucks.
Cost estimates that show substantial cost savings vs. other means to achieve ultralow NOx.

The agenda for the meeting:

Bill Van Amburg, Executive Vice President, CALSTART:  Welcome and program overview

Bill Robertson, California Air Resources Board:  Ultralow NOx regulations: where we are and where we are going

John Wall, former Chief Technology Officer, CTO Cummins; Board Chairman, Achates Power:  Brief review of the progress of heavy duty diesel engines towards more sustainable transportation

Fabien Redon, CTO Achates Power:  Heavy Duty Demonstration Program results and plans

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