OPOC engine production to begin this year?

Acccording to stock-watcher stock.ourxun.com production of the OPOC opposed-piston engine is expected to begin this year.

As readers of this blog are aware, the OPOC engine is being developed for production in China by Zhongding Power.

Some sources suggest the unusual powertrain will prove a major breakthrough in engine development, but it is unlikely to be released for production until engine development has been signed off as this could have profound effect upon decisions affecting final machining, especially of the unique cylinder block.

Compared to current conventional turbocharged diesel engines, OPOC engine has half the number of parts and its weight is said to be cut by 30 per cent.

In addition to fewer parts and lower weight the developers claim high thermal efficiency, lower fuel consumption and emissions that can achieve Euro V1 requirements.

It is said to have the benefit too of being able to run on a variety of fuels including natural gas, gasoline, CNG and gasoline as well as diesel fuel.

Some sources suggests a fuel consumption of 2.4 l/100km.

However, the chartered waters of opposed piston development stretching back 75 years have not so far yielded good results. But there can always be a first time.

Zhongding Power sees the engine as having potential in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, off-highway machinery and military vehicles.

First announcing the engine, Zhongding Power declared an investment of over US $200 million in the plant in China which would have a capacity of 150,000 engines a year, with over “US $1 billion in revenue potential”. 

“High-volume production is expected to begin in 2014”, Zhongding Power declared at the time. EcoMotors Inc. of Allen Park, Michigan conceived the idea of the OPOC engine.

It will be recalled that recently Cummins Inc. teamed with Achates Power Inc. of San Diego, California to develop opposed-piston engine technology.