Internal combustion engine and method of operating same

A method of operating an engine, comprising the steps of:

• providing an engine block having at least one cylinder bank including a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein;
• reciprocatingly disposing a piston in each of the cylinder bores;
• rotatably mounting a crankshaft to the engine block;
• providing a plurality of connecting rods having a first end and a second end, rotatably attaching the first end to the crankshaft, and coupling the second end to the piston;
• mounting a cylinder head to the cylinder bank and covering the cylinder bores therewith;
• including within the cylinder head an intake valve and an exhaust valve in fluid communication with each of the cylinder bores;
• disposing at least one permanent magnet in a skirt of each piston;
• disposing at least one electromagnet adjacent to the at least one permanent magnet;
• and
• configuring a control system to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnets to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnets cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnets to affect a motion of the piston in respect of the engine block.