The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has awarded USD1.39 million to the Southwest Research Institute for a study of propane fuel system technologies.

The study also involves determining the ability to comply with coming US Environmental Protection Agency standards relating to large, spark-ignited, non-road engines. Work will begin immediately, with initial results expected by the end of this year.

The institute, based in San Antonio, Texas, was selected from five organisations which applied for the grant. The grant "demonstrates both the propane industry's commitment to the forklift market, and its proactive efforts to ensure propane continues to be one of the cleanest and most cost-effective fuels for forklifts", said PERC president Roy Willis.

Industrial Truck Association executive director Bill Montwieler said emissions regulations already in place in California made the research project "especially" important.

"As manufacturers of industrial trucks and their components and attachments, ITA members are vitally interested in this project," he said.

Research objectives include investigating closed-loop carburetion, central fuel injection and port fuel injection technologies, and exploring the effects of liquid petroleum gas fuel quality variation on emissions.