WARRENVILLE, Ill. -- Navistar International has reached a development agreement with EcoMotors International in support of the company's opoc (Opposed-Piston, Opposed-Cylinder) engine architecture.

EcoMotors International's first product targeted for commercial application is a turbo-diesel version of the innovative opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder engine.

EcoMotors' patented “opoc” engine design creates an internal combustion engine family architecture that will operate on a number of different fuels, including gasoline, diesel, natural gas and ethanol. The opoc's new opposed piston-opposed cylinder direct gas exchange operation provides the emissions benefits of 4-cycle engines, the simplicity benefits of 2-cycle engines, the power density of the opposed piston engine and the latest developments in electronics and combustion technology all tied together in a new and proprietary engine architecture, according to EcoMotors.

"We continue to be on the cutting edge of technology and our development agreement with EcoMotors once again demonstrates our commitment to develop new, innovative approaches to the commercial vehicle industry," said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO. "Our company has a long history of pushing the envelope to deliver state-of-the-art, customer-focused solutions and we see great promise in EcoMotors' breakthrough engine design."

Khosla Ventures' Vinod Khosla, EcoMotors' primary investor along with Bill Gates, sees the Navistar-EcoMotors alliance as a reflection of the disruptive nature of the opoc technology.

"We are delighted that Navistar, a global leader in the commercial vehicle industry, has recognized the game-changing promise of opoc," said Khosla. "The only truly disruptive technologies are those that can provide not only rapid payback but also economic and carbon benefits to large segments of the world's population without the need for subsidies or massive infrastructure investments. Among next-generation propulsion systems, the opoc engine is broadly applicable and can provide lower carbon emissions than almost any other technology."

"EcoMotors is proud to partner with Navistar to commercialize the revolutionary opoc engine," added Don Runkle, CEO, EcoMotors International. "For customers such as Navistar, this remarkable engine technology represents a competitive advantage that enables not only enhanced environmental sustainability, but also greater profitability. Our engineers are working to effectively rejuvenate the internal combustion engine for the 21st century."

The opoc engine comprises two opposing cylinders per module, with a crankshaft between them -- each cylinder has two pistons moving in opposite directions. This design configuration eliminates the cylinder-head and valve-train components of conventional engines, offering an efficient, compact and simple core engine structure. The result is an engine family that is lighter, more efficient and economical, with lower exhaust emissions, according to EcoMotors.

EcoMotors' opoc engine has a number of distinct advantages over traditional internal combustion engines, the company says. The opoc engine has very high power density of nearly one horsepower per pound resulting in an unprecedented lightweight and compact engine. The opoc engine is perfectly balanced enabling stackable power modules. This unique modular displacement capability is one of the long standing, but elusive goals of engine engineers' quest for high efficiency. In addition, it also results in much less NVH than a conventional engine of comparable power.

"Consistent with our leadership strategy, Navistar continues to seek innovative products which differentiate us from the marketplace, while others embrace the status quo," said Eric Tech, president, Navistar Engine Group.