3. Thermal carts

3.1 Motors

Spark-ignition engines are now only used in gas-powered forklift trucks. In France, this is mainly LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), but engines powered by NG (natural gas) are beginning to appear on very high-capacity handling equipment. NG is virtually pure methane, stored in a gaseous state in tanks at pressures ranging from 300 to 1,000 bar. Given the size of the world's gas reserves and the importance that this gas is set to take on in our energy supply, we can't afford to ignore it, especially as major research work is currently being carried out into its use in carburation. On the other hand, the lack of space available for the tank may limit its application to high-powered forklifts.

In France, LPG carburation is a mixture of propane and butane,...