Cleaner burning 2 stroke engines...

[javelina1]

cool!

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/...d=news_view&newsId=20090826005997&newsLang=en

 

[GearNut]

And I used to joke about owning a fuel injected weed eater.
I never thought the technology would reach small engines.
Now is seems the joke is on me......

 

[arceeguy]

It is sad that emission standards are going to be so tight that we need EFI on small engines. The joke is on us, the consumer.

A fuel injected weed eater, string trimmer, or lawn mower will be much more expensive, heavier and probably a maintenance nightmare after storage in the off season.

What will happen in 2015 is that gas powered power equipment will only be purchased by professionals because of cost. The consumer market will be all electric.

 

[AussieJester]

The consumer market will be all electric.

and the problem with that would be what exactly?

 

[arceeguy]

and the problem with that would be what exactly?

With current technology, electric power equipment sucks (for lack of a better word). My parents gave me a cordless electric string trimmer and it does not have the power to cut through thick weeds, and one charge is not enough to cover my property. It cost more than a 25cc gas trimmer that kicks butt in performance.

Electric lawn mowers are also impractical for me. Cordless mowers don't have the runtime (and are expensive) and corded mowers are ridiculous for anything more than a 25x25 lot. (which is push mower territory) I've got a small riding mower and a few 21" power mowers. (two strokes and four stokes)

I own an electric pressure washer and a gas powered unit. I don't have to tell you that the gas powered unit is more convenient, more powerful, and a better value.

I do own electric hedge trimmers, but I use a small $99 gasoline generator to run them rather than a 100+ ft. extension cord.

The new emission standards will also affect motorized bikes. Say goodbye to affordable engines. Some folks will cheer when the happy time is extinct, but when a 4 stroke FI Honda 50cc engine costs $600 (for just the engine) they might not be so happy.

Using the excuse of clean air, the government is slowly taking away everything that is fun. As boats, ATV's, motorcycles, jet ski's, snowmobiles - all of this cool stuff will become more expensive and out of the reach of the middle class.

Back in the 60's, what households owned power mowers or a portable generator? The upper class folks did. The lower classes pushed their mowers around, and watched their food spoil during power outages. Now, the lower income folks have power mowers (and the upper class folks have a paid lawn service) and access to affordable portable generators to ride out power failures.

 

[wheelbender6]

If i have to add one of those to my China motor one day to keep it legal, I'll do it.
It still beats the alternatives, in my opinion.

 

[arceeguy]

If i have to add one of those to my China motor one day to keep it legal, I'll do it.
It still beats the alternatives, in my opinion.

You won't be required to do anything. The manufacturer will be responsible for making sure that their engines are compliant with new regulations. The Happy Time engine will become extinct. This is fact. So get them while you can, and stock up on parts.

My worry is that your string trimmer, lawn mower, leaf blower or portable generator will need to be as complicated as a current Evinrude outboard, or fuel injected sport bike. For now, small motorcycles are still carbureted. They will cost hundreds more if they need fuel injection and computerized engine management to pass emissions.

 

[mattysids]

well i read up on that article

"The MCZ33812 is a commercial grade device available now for production at a suggested resale price of $1.70 (USD)"

this seems to be the central controller of the system, and that's pretty cheap if you ask me

is it the sensors and other devices that add a significant cost?

 

[arceeguy]

The chip is the least of the expenses.

Fuel injector, fuel pump, alternator/regulator capable of running the fuel management system, etc.

 

[mattysids]

yeah that's what i was worried about.

we can only hope for a miracle battery to arrive

the only thing even remotely promising i've seen is the use of ultra-capacitors in small power tools such as power screwdrivers that charge within a minute and will run for about 20 minutes of use (or something like that)