Any lift truck that can combine very low emissions levels with improved fuel efficiency and faster lift/travel speeds is likely to generate a great deal of interest. Does such a machine exist? At a recent press day, Nissan Forklift (www.nissanforklift.com) said its new EDGE engine option does all that and more.

EDGE stands for Efficient fuel Delivery Governed Electronically. Developed by Nissan and Zenith Fuel Systems (www.zenithfuelsystems.com), the combination fuel-injection and engine governing system offers "the lowest emission levels of any engine-powered forklift" and will meet clean air standards through 2007, according to Nissan officials. EDGE beats California's emission standards, the nation's toughest, by 85 percent, said Tim Webb, manager of product training. "This is as close to electric as you can get without fuss," he said.

EDGE also improves fuel efficiency by 7 percent in gasoline, liquid propane gas (LPG) and dual-fuel models. Other benefits include advanced engine protection that initiates shut down when water and transmission fluid temperatures rise too high or oil pressure drops too low. Self-diagnostics activate a "creep home" mode that reduces engine speed when overheating is detected, allowing the truck to return to a safe area.

Webb described and then demonstrated the higher performance levels of an EDGE-outfitted engine. These include better acceleration, faster lift speeds and superior power on inclines compared to conventional carburetor engines.

With higher performance also comes speed control. The system's electronic governor sets a maximum travel speed for both indoor and outdoor use. It also limits the vehicle's speed at various lift heights.

The EDGE system is available on all Nissan Nomad and Optimum cushion and pneumatic tire models with a capacity of 5,000 pounds or less.