Press Release

KOHLER, Wis. – October 29, 2009  –  Beginning with its Command PRO® 29-horsepower (747 cc), twin-cylinder, horizontal- and vertical-shaft engines, Kohler has commenced production on the first air-cooled, gasoline model with electronic fuel injection (EFI) as standard equipment. Before year end, seven additional EFI engines will be in production, ranging from 19 to 29 horsepower.

By mid-2010, Kohler will have converted its entire Command PRO line to closed-loop EFI technology – no less than 22 engine models ranging from 19 to 41 horsepower (694-999 cc) – and at a competitive price with traditional carbureted engines.  Among the first OEMs to specify the new Command PRO EFI engine is Exmark. The KOHLER vertical-shaft engine will power Exmark’s new 60-inch Lazer Z commercial mower, which is debuting at the GIE + EXPO 2009 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Kohler is partnering with Delphi – a leading global supplier of mobile electronics and transportation systems – for its EFI system that delivers significant fuel savings, improved performance and reduced emissions. Long used in the automotive industry, EFI technology was first introduced to the small engine market by Kohler in the mid 1990s.

At that time, Kohler incorporated EFI as an option on just a few select air- and liquid-cooled models, which carried a higher price tag over its carbureted models. Since then, Kohler has found a way to take the EFI technology and integrate it among multiple horsepower levels at an extremely competitive price.

Also true to Kohler Engines, the “closed-loop” system the brand had incorporated on those first models more than a decade ago will continue to be the standard feature on the new EFI engines. In most engines, when an EFI engine is started, it operates in an “open loop” mode mapped by the electronic control unit (ECU). Only KOHLER EFI engines include an oxygen sensor that analyzes the air/fuel mixture in the exhaust. If the oxygen level strays from the ideal air/fuel mixture, the sensor triggers adjustments in the ECU map to adjust the amount of fuel injected into the system. Only KOHLER EFI engines then “close the loop” between the air/fuel intake and the exhaust output to provide a constant steam of critical feedback – and optimal power and fuel economy. The closed loop advantage also means that only KOHLER EFI engines automatically adapt to operating conditions and altitude changes.

An additional benefit of the new KOHLER EFI engines is instant load response. The Kohler exclusive EFI system allows the engine to respond with peak performance even in changing altitudes and load requirements, which in turn, operates at top efficiency. 

Kohler also designed this new line of engines within the same footprint as its current Command PRO models, so that OEMs can easily drop in the newest KOHLER engine without the added expense of altering the end equipment design to accommodate the new engine. This is accommodated by Kohler’s exclusive self-contained EFI design, which features only one fuel line rather than an additional return fuel line. The fuel module, electronic control unit and sensors are also all engine-mounted. 

“Depending on the application, end users can realize up to 28 percent fuel efficiency savings,” said Cam Litt, marketing manager, Kohler Engines. “Fuel costs, which have rescinded somewhat from 2008, remain a significant expense for professionals. And, Kohler will be within the EPA phase 3/CARB Tier 3 levels immediately, with extremely low levels of HC and NOx being produced.”

Flex fuel program forthcoming

In 2008, Kohler also announced plans to develop the industry’s first EFI engines with a flex-fuel option.According to Litt, this alternate fuel option, such as E-85, could be available to OEMs some time in 2010, once the business has completed the EFI conversion across the entire Command PRO twin-cylinder line. “In the future, our KOHLER EFI engines will also be E-85 capable, meaning the engine will be more adaptable to varying fuel formulations,” said Litt.

About Kohler Co. (www.KohlerEngines.com)

Within the Kohler Global Power Group, Kohler Co. and its affiliate Lombardini, Srl manufacture gasoline engines from 3.5-40 horsepower, and diesel engines from 6.7-64.4 horsepower marketed worldwide under the brand names KOHLER and LOMBARDINI.  Also within the Kohler Global Power Group are Kohler Power Systems and affiliate SDMO Industries S.A.S, manufacturing generators (marine, residential, industrial and mobile) that are marketed worldwide under the brands KOHLER and SDMO. The group’s Kohler Rental business provides temporary power, climate control and luxury restrooms to the industrial, commercial, disaster recovery and event markets throughout the U.S.

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin-USA, Kohler Co. is one of the oldest and largest privately-held companies in the United States.  Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

Editor's Note: 
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