TwinTorq compound motor

Non-profit trade association Drive Oregon of Portland awarded USD40,000 through a matching grant program to Nacco Materials Handling Group (NMHG) and the KersTech vehicle systems business of Braking Technologies Ltd.

The partnership aims to create and test a prototype of KersTech's TwinTorq compound electric-hydraulic motor to power a forklift.

Drive Oregon is funded in part with Oregon State Lottery Funds administered by Business Oregon.

"Industrial equipment is one of the most promising markets for electric motors, and Oregon already has substantial capabilities in this industry," says Lester Erlston, chief executive officer of KersTech in Beaverton, Oregon. "We are thrilled to work with a large, established company like NMHG to demonstrate the TwinTorq motor's ability to help vehicles with frequent start-stop drive cycles use battery energy much more efficiently to significantly extend driving range."

KersTech's initial focus involves hybrid retrofit systems for Classes 6, 7 and 8 frequent start-stop heavy trucks and buses.

NMHG has an Oregon presence and is an operation of publicly traded Mayfield Heights, Ohio-based Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc.

Drive Oregon Executive Director Jeff Allen says, "Drive Oregon has previously paid out just under USD400,000 in matching grants, which have already leveraged nearly USD4 million in additional investment."