The Freedom engine is based on the Wankel rotary engine, which was patented in the late 1950's by Felix Wankel. Why is the Freedom engine poised to capture a return on a $3 billion investment, 1500+ patents and 30+ years of Wankel engine development, application and experience?
Proven, Inexpensive Technology
The core technology was acquired from Outboard Marine Corporation who produced the only Wankel rotary engine ever manufactured in volume in the US. OMC spent over $200 million (in today's dollars) developing their rotary engine technology. They produced over 15,000 engines for their snowmobile line in anticipation of the demise of the two-stroke piston engine. These engines, collectively, have accumulated millions of hours in operation. Manufacturing cost comparisons performed by OMC validated the ability to produce their rotary engine at a competitive cost with their own two-stroke engine.
Patented Technology
Advanced proprietary improvements to the core technology, included in the rights acquired by the Company, have enhanced reliability significantly, improved fuel consumption and dramatically lowered emissions.
The Freedom engine, through its licensed patents on wear coatings, port design, and lubrication system, combines the demonstrated reliability and fuel economy of the expensive rotary engines, with the low cost but less fuel-efficient OMC design. The Company acquired the entire OMC rotary engine technology and then developed new proprietary elements to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The Freedom engine reduces the total emissions by over 90% when compared with many industrial four-stroke piston engines and most two-stroke engines.
For a graphical view of Freedom-Motor's ancestry, click here. Freedom-Motors Ancestry (PDF, 15kb)
