This project aims to improve the energy efficiency performance of an electric forklift vehicle thereby significantly reducing the vehicle’s emissions out compared with current best-in-class technology. To achieve this objective, partners will realise the industry’s first integrated hydraulic power unit for versatile integration to low voltage implementation drive for electric forklift vehicles. A technology demonstration unit will be simulated on an OEM vehicle’s drivetrain to identify the appropriate vehicle configurations and power requirements, prior to physical integration and evaluation. The consortium consists of Parker Hannifin (Hydraulics, Tier 1 Supplier), Ashwoods Electric Motors (IPM Motor, SME), UniCarriers (OEM), and the University of Bath (Academic). In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of electric forklift vehicles, project outputs have the potential to provide a significant improvement in productivity and ownership costs for the end user with a new integrated solution providing a step-change in cost, performance, efficiency, size and weight, thus replacing traditional less efficient motor drives within the commercial market.

Industrial research activities undertaken by Parker Hannifin seek to develop a first-of-a-kind engine technology for prolonging the optimal performance of medium and heavy-duty vehicles (e.g. haulage trucks, agricultural tractors, excavators). The technology, an advanced crankcase ventilation filter - employing a novel super impaction technique - protects the vehicle’s turbocharger from fouling, and thus prolongs the system’s optimal performance over its lifetime. A reduction in GHG emissions and air pollutants (e.g. NOx, HC, PM), and improved fuel consumption and vehicle service life are in-direct benefits accrued. Intelligent product design minimises the technology’s production costs and enables the achievement of a retail target price significantly lower than current rival best-in-class solutions. The economical retail price means cost-sensitive builders of medium-duty engines will, for the first time, be able to include premium ‘fit-for-life’ crankcase ventilation components in their builds. Funding is requested to accelerate and expand Parker’s current development programme to validate bespoke prototype technologies on several target engines. Parker’s UK-based Racor Division - an established global Tier 1 supplier of fuel, air, and oil filtration systems - will collaborate with a number of major European OEMs to validate bespoke technologies via a series of in-field trials. The project is expected to run for 18 months. Market launch is foreseen soon after project completion.

To establish customer-centric innovation processes, through the redefinition, and redevelopment and commericalisation of the industrial filtration products as a highly differentiated and global product range.