Achates Power
Achates Power is a San Diego-based engine technology company that licenses proprietary opposed-piston two-stroke engine designs to manufacturers serving passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, military, and power generation markets, with verified CARB 2027 NOx-compliant heavy-duty diesel and a U.S. Army combat engine program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Achates Power does
Achates Power, Inc. is a San Diego-headquartered engine technology development company founded in 2004 by combustion physicist James Lemke with seed investment from John T. Walton (Wal-Mart heir). The company develops opposed-piston (OP) two-stroke compression-ignition engine architecture in which two pistons per cylinder operate in opposite reciprocating motion, connected to separate crankshafts. This eliminates cylinder heads and valve trains, yielding roughly 30% fewer moving parts, lower heat rejection, and every stroke functioning as a power stroke. The architecture supports multi-fuel operation across diesel, gasoline, natural gas, hydrogen, and biofuels including JP-8.
Achates commercializes as a B2B technology licensor rather than an engine manufacturer. Revenue mechanics flow from licensing designs, development and test tools, software, and patents to engine manufacturers and from joint-development and government contract participation. The product portfolio spans light-, medium-, and heavy-duty displacements: a 2.5L light-duty engine (ACT Expo 2024), a 2.7L gasoline compression-ignition unit (Ford F-150 demonstration, 37 mpg), 5L and 10L medium- and heavy-duty variants, and a 10.6L heavy-duty diesel (CARB 2027 NOx-compliant, 0.02 g/bhp-hr, in Walmart/Peterbilt 579 fleet service since April 2022). The military program produced the 14.3L Advanced Combat Engine (ACE), a 1,000 hp modular two-stroke diesel developed with Cummins under an $87M U.S. Army contract, with a scalable 750–1,500 hp range and scheduled for late-2027 production.
Customer segments span passenger vehicles, medium/heavy-duty commercial trucking, U.S. and allied military, and off-road/stationary power generation. Key named partners include Cummins (lead on ACE), Walmart (fleet validation), Aramco Americas and OGCI (co-funding and strategic investment), CALSTART (demonstration project leadership), Ricardo, BASF, Corning, Delphi, Argonne National Laboratory, University of Michigan, Nissan, and Fairbanks Morse Engine. The company employs approximately 85–100 staff across its San Diego headquarters and a metro Detroit customer application office in Farmington Hills, and has cumulatively raised approximately $150 million across venture, strategic, and government funding sources since inception.
Achates Power firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Achates Power
- Legal name
- Achates Power, Inc.
- Website
- https://achatespower.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Achates Power is a San Diego-based engine technology company that licenses proprietary opposed-piston two-stroke engine designs to manufacturers serving passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, military, and power generation markets, with verified CARB 2027 NOx-compliant heavy-duty diesel and a U.S. Army combat engine program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Achates Power industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Engine Technology Licensing
- NAICS
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635), Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing (333618)
- SIC
- Engines & Turbines (3510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Truck & Commercial Vehicle Powertrain Manufacturing (Diesel/CNG/Hydrogen/Hybrid) (IMACABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hybrid Powertrain Integration Manufacturing (ICE-HEV/PHEV modules) (IMACAHAJ)
Keywords
Where Achates Power is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Achates Power business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: Licensing designs, development and test tools, software, and patents to engine companies that manufacture engines incorporating Achates Power's opposed-piston technology.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Achates Power product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Achates Power develops opposed-piston (OP) two-stroke compression-ignition engine technology and licenses the designs, development and test tools, software, and patents to engine manufacturers. Its product family spans light-duty to heavy-duty and military displacements (2.5L, 5L, 10L, 10.6L, and 14.3L military), targeting heavy-duty trucking, off-road, power generation, light-duty, and combat-vehicle applications.
Product overview
Achates Power is an engine technology development company that designs and advances opposed-piston two-stroke engine technology. The company's primary offering is its OP Engine technology portfolio, which includes multiple displacement variants ranging from 2.5L (light-duty passenger vehicles) to 10.6L (heavy-duty commercial trucks), as well as the military-specific 14.3L Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) developed with Cummins. The company licenses its engine designs, development tools, software, and patents to engine manufacturers rather than producing engines itself. Key applications include passenger vehicles, medium/heavy-duty commercial trucks, military vehicles, and off-road/power generation equipment. The technology is notable for eliminating cylinder heads and valve trains, resulting in fewer moving parts, lower heat rejection, and superior fuel efficiency while meeting stringent emissions standards including 2027 CARB NOx requirements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Opposed-Piston (OP) Engine Technology Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% NOx reduction vs current EPA standards - meeting 2027 CARB requirements with only 0.02 g/bhp-hr NOx emissions
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Achates Power
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Achates Power technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Achates Power partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CumminscoreCummins is the lead contractor on the $87 million US Army contract to develop the Advanced Combat Engine (ACE). Achates Power provides the opposed-piston technology for the 1,000 hp, 14.3L engine for next-generation combat vehicles. The partnership builds on earlier $47.4 million Army contract and represents Achates' flagship defense program.
- WalmartcoreWalmart is conducting fleet testing of Achates' 10.6L opposed-piston diesel engine in Peterbilt 579 trucks in Southern California. This is the first real-world road testing of the engine, which achieved compliance with 2027 CARB NOx regulations.
- Ricardo North AmericaminorPartnership formed to improve overall efficiency and reduce emissions in full-size pickup trucks. Ricardo provides powertrain design/development capabilities, software, thermal management and vehicle systems expertise to support Achates' ARPA-E Gen II program.
- CALSTARTcoreLeads the demonstration project team for Achates' heavy-duty opposed-piston diesel engine. CALSTART is a clean transportation consortium that assesses emissions standards testing.
- Aramco AmericascoreCo-funding the 10.6L engine development project alongside CARB and California air districts. Aramco Research Center in Detroit conducted engine and aftertreatment system development and performance assessments.
- Southwest Research InstituteminorContributing engineering expertise to the demonstration project team for the ultra-low NOx heavy-duty diesel engine development.
- University of MichiganminorPartner in the ARPA-E HOPE project for developing a Highly-efficient Opposed-Piston Engine for Hybrid Vehicles. The university contributes engineering resources in design and testing under Professor Anna G. Stefanopoulou.
- Nissan Motor CompanyminorPartner in the ARPA-E HOPE project bringing experience in hybrid engine development to the collaboration with Achates Power and University of Michigan.
- Delphi AutomotiveminorPartner in the $9 million DOE project to develop a 3-liter gasoline compression ignition engine, contributing experience with gasoline compression injection systems.
- Argonne National LaboratoryminorPartner in the $9 million DOE project contributing expertise in single-cylinder engine research and development.
- Fairbanks Morse EngineminorPartner since 2013 for reducing emissions and fuel consumption of Fairbanks Morse's proprietary diesel and dual-fuel opposed-piston engines for stationary power and marine applications.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Achates Power competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cummins: Global leader in diesel and natural gas engines for commercial vehicles, defense, and industrial markets; directly comparable as Achates' lead ACE partner and the dominant heavy-duty engine OEM Achates is licensing into.
- Fairbanks Morse Engine: Manufacturer of large diesel and dual-fuel engines for marine and stationary power using opposed-piston technology; existing Achates licensing partner since 2013 and the closest direct competitor in OP engine commercialization.
Emerging players
- Pinnacle Engines: California-based startup developing opposed-piston, split-cycle engine technology for light-duty applications; competes with Achates in the same fundamental OP engine space but focused on smaller displacement passenger vehicle use cases.
- INNengine: Spanish startup commercializing a two-stroke opposed-piston engine for hybrid and range-extended EV applications; comparable as another emerging OP engine licensor pursuing multi-fuel and hybrid integration similar to Achates' HOPE program.
- Westport Fuel Systems: Developer of natural gas and hydrogen combustion technologies for commercial vehicle engines; comparable to Achates as an alternative-fuel powertrain licensor addressing emissions and decarbonization in heavy-duty markets.
- Hyliion: Developer of hybrid and natural gas powertrain solutions for Class 8 trucks; comparable to Achates' HOPE hybrid OP engine work as an adjacent technology path targeting efficiency and emissions in long-haul trucking.
- Scuderi Group: Developer of split-cycle and turbocharged engine technology for improved thermal efficiency; comparable as a niche advanced ICE architecture startup pursuing licensing-driven commercialization in the same regulatory environment Achates targets.
Broad incumbents
- Caterpillar: One of the world's largest manufacturers of diesel and gas engines for heavy-duty trucks, industrial, and power generation markets; broadly comparable incumbent whose installed engine platforms Achates' technology must displace or be licensed into.
- Wärtsilä: Major manufacturer of large marine and stationary engines with deep opposed-piston heritage; relevant peer for Achates' marine and stationary power generation applications and a benchmark for OP engine commercial deployment.
- Rolls-Royce Power Systems (MTU): Manufacturer of high-power diesel and gas engines for defense, marine, and stationary power, including the MTU Series 800 used in main battle tanks; comparable to Achates' ACE military and heavy-duty commercial positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Achates Power social profiles
Digital presenceAchates Power financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Achates Power leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Achates Power funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Achates Power M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Achates Power
What does Achates Power do?
Achates Power develops opposed-piston (OP) two-stroke compression-ignition engine technology and licenses the designs, development and test tools, software, and patents to engine manufacturers. Its product family spans light-duty to heavy-duty and military displacements (2.5L, 5L, 10L, 10.6L, and 14.3L military), targeting heavy-duty trucking, off-road, power generation, light-duty, and combat-vehicle applications.
Is Achates Power a public or private company?
Achates Power is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Achates Power founded?
Achates Power was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Achates Power based?
Achates Power is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Achates Power make money?
One revenue line is on record: technology Licensing.
Who are Achates Power's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cummins and Fairbanks Morse Engine. Emerging players are Pinnacle Engines, INNengine, Westport Fuel Systems, Hyliion and Scuderi Group. Broad incumbents are Caterpillar, Wärtsilä and Rolls-Royce Power Systems (MTU).
Does Achates Power have an API?
No public API is recorded for Achates Power.
What industry is Achates Power in?
Achates Power's product category is Engine Technology Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACABAJ, Truck & Commercial Vehicle Powertrain Manufacturing (Diesel/CNG/Hydrogen/Hybrid), with a secondary code of IMACAHAJ, Hybrid Powertrain Integration Manufacturing (ICE-HEV/PHEV modules). Its NAICS code is 3336 and its SIC code is 3510.