Electronic engine management for small engines

Through an overview of sensor technologies, Cherry Electrical Products confirms that the off-highway industry is ready to benefit from the automotive industry when it comes to electronically controlling small engines.

For over a decade, the benefits of electronic engine management have been available to the automotive industry. While initially developed to meet increasingly stringent emissions requirements, electronic engine management provides other benefits to the motorist, including better mileage, more power, easier starting in cold weather, a smoother idle, and reduced operating expenses. It has also made possible sophisticated engine-monitoring functions, providing the driver-as well as technicians-with pertinent information, diagnostics, and warnings as needed.

Although the same technology is easily applicable in theory to the smaller engines used in commercial landscaping machinery, high-end home lawn and garden equipment, and construction equipment, the added cost and the complexity of implementing electronic engine management in these engines have slowed its adaptation.