TwinTorq motor nears test

News Story
- 4 Dec 2014 ( #696 ) - Beaverton, OR, United States
1 min read
TwinTorq compound motor
TwinTorq compound motor
KersTech Vehicle Systems is making headway toward development of a TwinTorq motor suitable for forklifts and other vehicles with frequent start-stop drive cycles.

The motor improves battery energy efficiently and significantly extends driving range because each stop and start is a recovery event, says Lester Erlston, chief executive officer of the Beaverton-based business. The motor combines electric and hydraulic torque technologies to extend operational runtime.

A TwinTorq prototype being built at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls incorporates "critical control algorithms", Erlston says.

"Forklift warehouse drive cycles are ideal for TwinTorq motor systems," he says. "We see tremendous opportunities for that." Other potential markets include city and shuttle buses, refuse and parcel trucks and port handling equipment.

KersTech has received project hardware and software funding of about USD459,000, largely from the Transportation Research and Education Centre at Portland State University, trade association Drive Oregon of Portland, independent Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center Inc, the City of Portland Development Commission and forklift manufacturer Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc.

KersTech intends during 2015 to integrate the custom-built TwinTorq prototype motor into a 3 T Hyster forklift for trials at the Fairview, Oregon research and test facility of the Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc subsidiary of publicly traded Hyster-Yale. The Mayfield Heights, Ohio-based forklift maker's commitment includes a USD40,000 contribution of in-kind services.

KersTech filed in 2013 for US and international patent protection on the technology in the motor system.

KersTech received notice in March of a US patent allowance for the gearbox structure of the TwinTorq drive system. Erlston says the application for that patent was filed five years ago.
Davies Turner adds LPG forklifts
Davies Turner adds LPG forklifts 23 Mar 2023 - Dartford, United Kingdom - 2 min read
Gammon adds battery-powered crawler crane
Gammon adds battery-powered crawler crane 9 Mar 2023 - Hong Kong - 1 min read
Briefs
Briefs 23 Oct 2014 - 3 min read
Previously about:
Briefs News Story - 29 May 2025 - 2 min read
Hyster-Yale reports Q1 revenue fall News Story - 8 May 2025 - Cleveland, OH, United States - 2 min read
Wrapping up our ProMat 2025 coverage News Story - 17 Apr 2025 - Chicago, IL, United States - 5 min read
Do you have materials handling news? Submit your news here

As the material handling industry moves toward electrification, Volvo Penta’s electromobility platform offers purpose-built electric drivelines and energy storage subsystems tailored to the practical needs of industrial applications. Developed by the Volvo Group, this platform builds on proven technology already in use across heavy-duty applications such as trucks and construction equipment.

Visit us at TOC Europe - Booth C24.

Words of support …

After advertising with Forkliftaction.com, we got many enquiries regarding interest to be our distributor. Mostly from Europe and USA but including a few in ASEAN. We feel that the advertisement was useful and good for market expansion.

Lawrence Xu, Assistant Sales Manager - Resonac Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Whether you have low or high volumes of container movements, we have a container handling solution that will suit your business. With high quality, superior design, and a range of safety features, our light-weight straddle carriers are used across a variety of industries including logistics and transport, glass, steel, food, customs and border protection, and import and export.

Mobicon Systems
Tel: +61 0) 7 3448 0010 or 1300 66 1976 (within Australia)
www.mobiconsystems.com

PREMIUM business

Zhejiang UN Forklift Co., Ltd
Manufacturer of IC forklifts, electric forklifts and warehouse equipment.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Inside The News
As a journalist focussed on the materials handling sector, it is difficult not to notice the regularity of news stories that detail injuries to – or worse still the deaths of – forklift operators... Continue reading

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

As the material handling industry moves toward electrification, Volvo Penta’s electromobility platform offers purpose-built electric drivelines and energy storage subsystems tailored to the practical needs of industrial applications. Developed by the Volvo Group, this platform builds on proven technology already in use across heavy-duty applications such as trucks and construction equipment.

Visit us at TOC Europe - Booth C24.