If you’ve paid any attention to your hand-held products for the last few years then you know that manufacturers have paid a great deal of attention to the engines powering these machines. Much of the innovation in this area has been driven by increasingly stringent emission regulations that originate in California and then grow into national policy.
Different manufacturers have taken their own, unique approaches to solving these challenges, and their solutions have ranged from the basic to the controversial. Husqvarna unveiled a new line of engines to power its hand-held tools at this year’s OPEI Show, and Mark Michaels, business unit manager for the company, said these are the company’s most environmentally friendly engines yet.
“The E-Tech II engines are used on our entire line of hand-held products other than chain saws, and they are already compliant with the Phase II regulations (imposed by the California Air Resources Board),” Michaels pointed out.
Meeting these regulatory standards is key for manufacturers, even though Michaels acknowledges that contractors rarely seem to be too concerned with emissions. “I hate to say that the end users don’t care too much about this issue, but they just want to know they have a machine they can use,” he pointed out. “And we have to comply to be in the game.”
The next step down in permissible regulations goes into effect in 2005, and even though the difference between the current laws and the next set isn’t as dramatic as the most recent emissions decrease, Michaels said manufacturers have to work harder than ever. “The difference isn’t as great in terms of actual numbers, but this is getting harder for manufacturers to do technology-wise,” he related, comparing manufacturers’ challenge to that of a competitive runner. “Once the runner is able to cut two minutes off his or her time, cutting the next two minutes off gets harder because there’s less time to cut from.”
In addition, manufacturers find themselves working to reduce engine emissions without sacrificing any of the gains they’ve made in recent years. “Engine development over the last 20 years has focused on helping the customer, but now we’re working against that with issues that may force us to add weight, heat or cost to the machine. That’s the last thing we want to do.”
Ultimately, Michaels knows that power equipment suppliers will provide a product for contractors. But he doesn’t know exactly what will power that machine. For example, he remains a proponent of two-cycle technology over four-cycle designs, as a sign listing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach illustrated in Husqvarna’s booth. Yet, four-cycle engines may be the key to unlocking the regulatory struggle.
“Never say never with two-stroke machines,” Michaels maintained, pointing out that these machines already run more efficiently and cleaner than many people thought they could. “The reality is that some manufacturers will probably stumble trying to get to the next level, but the customers will end up with a top-notch machine no matter what the engine looks like.”