New Kohler Command PRO EFI 824-cc commercial engine
Kohler Engines recently unveiled its most fuel-efficient commercial engine with best-in-class horsepower and torque.* The 824-cc Command PRO EFI engine features a highly tuned air intake system that enhances airflow to maximize power and torque. The company’s closed-loop, electronic fuel injection (EFI) system, when coupled with the new design, makes the 824 Kohler’s most fuel-efficient commercial engine in its current lineup. The engine will be available on numerous commercial mowers for the 2015 model year.
“When it comes to engines, you often have to choose between power and fuel efficiency,” said Mark Johansen, director of marketing for Kohler Engines. “With the 824, you get both. This engine is designed to help commercial cutters power through the toughest jobs while reducing downtime and minimizing fuel costs.”
The 824 achieves maximum torque and fuel economy through a number of unique design features. In addition to an optimized intake manifold, the engine features 2 spark plugs per cylinder head, which provides enhanced combustion to maximize fuel efficiency and engine torque. Highly engineered baffles, cylinder heads and specially designed crankcase fins provide efficient engine cooling to deliver maximum reliability and durability, and a commercial high-density air cleaner helps minimize debris reaching the engine. Also available is an optional electronic governor, which delivers better throttle response, engine load pickup and stability, thus resulting in applying the available power more efficiently.
The Command PRO 824 is available in 4 models (ECV850, ECV860, ECV870 and ECV880) that offer between 27 and 33 horsepower and best-in-class peak torque, as well as fuel efficiency that will allow commercial users to save at least $600 per engine per year in fuel costs over similar-sized carbureted engines, based on typical commercial cutter usage.
Most advanced EFI technology
Like all the Kohler EFI engines, the 824-cc Command PRO EFI uses the Kohler-designed closed-loop system, which means an oxygen sensor in the muffler continuously analyzes the air/fuel mixture. If the air/fuel mixture strays from the ideal level, the sensor triggers adjustments to the amount of fuel injected into the system. This helps deliver optimal fuel efficiency along with a variety of other benefits, including easy starting, improved power and better reliability. And because EFI systems replace carburetors, users save on fuel costs while reducing downtime due to carburetor-related issues, including buildup or residue that can often occur when using ethanol-blended gasoline. Kohler was the first engine maker to release a closed-loop EFI engine, and the 824-cc Command PRO EFI is the next evolution in the company’s lineup.
“We’ve invested in a work-hour equivalent of six years of design simulation,” Johansen said. “The 824 exceeds commercial-duty standards and is being released to the market after more than 27,500 hours of testing, so the Kohler team and our OEM partners are confident that the engine will offer lasting performance and durability.”
To support easy maintenance, all Kohler Command PRO EFI engines are supported by proprietary diagnostic software, which can be used to tap into an engine’s critical performance data. The software provides automotive-grade diagnostic capabilities and a variety of information to help simplify upkeep and repairs, including a log of operating conditions, total hours, oil temperatures, detailed load parameters and more.
Propane model also planned
Along with the gasoline models, Kohler will also introduce 2 propane 824-cc Command PRO EFI engines: PCV850 and PCV860 (27 and 29 hp., respectively). Kohler is the only company in the industry to manufacture a closed-loop EFI engine designed and optimized for propane use, producing equivalent power and torque to carbureted gasoline engines. The factory-direct propane EFI models eliminate the need for less-effective aftermarket propane kits that typically need fuel adjustment and priming, and often don’t perform as well.
With propane prices averaging up to 20-40 percent better per BTU than gasoline, commercial users of the 824-cc Command PRO EFI propane engines can experience significant savings in their cost of fuel. Additionally, there are numerous incentives for using propane, including a $1,000 rebate from the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) on new equipment purchases, additional state incentives of up to $2,500 offered by 11 states, and municipal incentives in many local areas.
Since propane is a cleaner-burning fuel, the 824-cc Command Pro EFI propane model will be ideal for users in states that enforce Ozone Action Days, which limits mowing with carbureted gasoline engines. Propane-fueled equipment can also help commercial cutters win business contracts with municipalities and other organizations seeking “green” fuels and technologies.
Kohler will produce the 824-cc Command PRO EFI models at its commercial plant in Kohler, Wis., using new computer numerical control (CNC) machining centers and a newly designed production line, and assembled by highly skilled Kohler associates with years of engine-building experience. The assembly line is outfitted with new robotics and inspection technology. All engines will go through hundreds of quality checks throughout the production process, and each will be individually tested before shipment. All Kohler Command PRO EFI engines offer a 3-year commercial warranty.
* Compared against other engines in the same class as the Kohler Command PRO EFI 824-cc engine. Class defined as vertical-shaft, commercial 800-cc to 875-cc gasoline engines. Horsepower and peak torque are based on preliminary data.
