Grants and Contracts Details

Description

Our hybrid module requires a liquid-cooled engine to be competitive in terms of reliability and durability in the primary lift truck market. We had originally focused on a small liquid-cooled engine from Chery, a Chinese manufacturer, that is used by John Deere in their Gators as well as by other companies for small utility applications. However, issues with a Chinese supplier on various fronts have led us to investigate other options. The Hyundai KAPPA engine is an excellent alternative engine and is manufactured in South Korea, an American ally without the same issues caused by a Chinese supplier. This project would acquire the long block for a KAPPA engine from Hyundai, which we have already fully specified and obtained a quote for the long block and the additional miscellaneous loose parts. This engine is actually an LP variation of their gasoline engine featuring optimal, higher LP-specific compression ratio and hardened exhaust valve seats. It is currently applied in Brazilian automotive markets which keeps our cost low, better accommodates future parts support and helps support a long production life cycle. The KAPPA is a 998cc, three-cylinder engine that produces 73 hp on gasoline with continuously variable valve timing. The physical size of this engine and its power output would make this engine too large for hybrid modules in warehouse forklifts but would be an excellent match for Class 5 applications. Hyundai would only be providing the long block and miscellaneous engine components like dipsticks. We would apply our compact fuel and exhaust systems and combine it with our engine control method that have been developed in prior PERC projects. The scope of this project is to acquire the KAPPA LP engine long block and add the engine control, fuel, cooling and exhaust systems to operate it on propane. While these systems are essentially the same as the those already constructed in the previous project, we do have to modify the design for bolt mounting patterns and other physical differences in engine layout. Therefore, this project include the cost to purchase the raw materials and shop time to layout and fabricate these systems for this engine. At the end of the project, we would have a Hyundai KAPPA engine operating on propane that could be UL compliant. It would use our control system that makes it suitable for a hybrid module. This project scope does not extend to the creation of the hybrid module that would actually be needed to drop into such a design.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date11/14/229/30/23

Funding

  • Propane Education and Research Council: $30,000.00

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