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Design, modeling, and measurements are discussed for a new direct-drive, electromagnetic valve actuator (EVA) for internal combustion engines. The actuator offers greater dynamic performance than previous designs and achieves fully flexible valve timing and lift, which provides great benefits in engine performance including increased engine efficiency, reduced emissions, and improved low-end performance. The innovative actuator consists of simplified stationary permanent magnets, stationary coils, and a moving steel plunger that transmits significant bi-directional forces to the valve throughout the stroke. Single- and double-actuator magnetic configurations, non-linear electromagnetic finite element analyses, system bond graphs, Simulink® simulations, and performance measurements of the actuator controlling intake valves on a cylinder head will be discussed. Future work, including on-engine dynamometer testing and an actuator design variant for exhaust valves, is briefly discussed.