EcoMotors International, developer of the efficient, clean, lightweight, powerful opoc engine, announced that it has completed its Series C round with a new investment totaling US $32.5 million, led by Braemar Energy Ventures. Existing investors Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures also participated in the round. To date, EcoMotors has raised more than $66 million.
The funding will allow EcoMotors to expand its research and development capability in support of growing the Company's already robust intellectual property base and moving to the next stage of opoc diesel engine development with two important customers, Navistar and Zhongding Holding Group. The new capital will also enable EcoMotors to accelerate the creation of gasoline versions of opoc to meet increasing customer demand for cost effective fuel economy gains in cars, light trucks, hybrids, and extended range EVs.
"We are delighted to welcome Braemar Energy Ventures to the EcoMotors team," said Don Runkle, EcoMotors's CEO. "Braemar's depth of experience in energy innovation makes them the perfect partner as we embark on a significant phase of development and delivery of our revolutionary opoc engine technology."
Runkle also announced that Braemar Managing Director William D. Lese will join the EcoMotors Board of Directors. "We look forward to tapping into Bill's vast knowledge of, and insight into, the arena of 'next generation' energy pioneers. His vision will be instrumental as we expand our R&D, accelerate our customer programs, and embark on the development of new versions of the opoc." Lese has more than 27 years of research, operating and venture capital experience in the energy and environmental businesses. Prior to co-founding Braemar, Lese was a partner with Mantis Holdings, Inc., a venture capital firm focused on investing in environmental and energy-efficiency companies. He serves on the Advisory Committee of the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and renewable Economy. He also currently serves on the boards of Coaltek, Utility Associates, CIRIS Energy, OPX Biotechnologies, Solazyme, Stion, CRB, General Fusion, Proterro, Bioformix, and is chairman of the board of Solicore and Ioxus.
"EcoMotors's remarkable opoc engine is exactly the type of cost-competitive, sustainable and environmentally responsible technology needed to propel growth in industrialized and developing nations as we move through the second decade of the 21st century." said Lese. "EcoMotors is an ideal fit for the Braemar portfolio, and we look forward to supporting Don and his innovative team as they bring their uniquely disruptive technologies to market."
EcoMotors is developing a multi-fuel family of engines to serve the expanding roster of opoc customers in both automotive and non-automotive markets. These include diesel versions specifically for GenSet and commercial vehicle applications, gasoline versions, and a CNG version ideally suited to leverage CNG's fuel cost advantages while negating the traditional CNG issues of reduced power and range, and conversion costs.
The clean, efficient, and elegantly simple Opposed-Piston-Opposed-Cylinder opoc architecture comprises 60 percent fewer components and far less mass than conventional engines. The perfectly balanced design means smooth, quiet and virtually vibration-free operation. The fully modular capability of opoc enables remarkable efficiency gains – as much as a 50 percent reduction in both fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Menlo Park-based Khosla Ventures was a founding investor in EcoMotors and was joined by Bill Gates, who led the Series B funding round, to continue supporting the company through the Series C funding.
