There is more than one way to power an electric forklift. One of the most important things to keep in mind when upgrading your forklift fleet power solutions is that the way you’ve been doing things may not be the ideal approach going forward.
The perfect type of battery for your forklift power requirements will depend on a number of factors, ranging from the amount of work handled by your vehicles on an average day to the number of forklifts you operate and the conditions on the warehouse floor.
Today, the question of correct technology often comes down to traditional lead acid batteries vs. new versions, with lithium ion forklift battery systems leading the way. While lead acid battery technology is entrenched, alternatives are on the rise. Your decision will set the course for the next phase of your operations.
Of course, changing your approach to forklift battery use isn't as easy as flipping a switch, and the choice isn't always as binary as it appears. By taking a close look at your current solutions, your needs and the options on offer, you can figure out an answer to the forklift power riddle, one tailored to your organization and promising real improvement.
One of the first things to understand when comparing and contrasting battery technologies is that changing the nature of your batteries is not a cure-all. Faults with your current system may not be because it uses lead acid batteries. Changing to Li ion batteries might not immediately revolutionize your material handling success.
Consider a few of the issues that commonly come up when dealing with forklift power solutions:
When seeking resolutions, it's natural to see lithium ion batteries as the answer. After all, this new technology promises an end to the lead acid era and the headaches that come along.
There are two caveats, however, which you will have to consider.
This approach to lithium ion technology shouldn't necessarily scare you away from making a change. Considering all options is simply an important part of the process of revising your forklift battery strategy. Your ultimate goal should be to emerge with the best possible power solution for your material handling needs, whatever technology you end up using.
Once you've thought about your objectives for replacing your forklift battery solution, it's time to consider the technologies on offer. Lithium ion batteries have won attention in recent years due to their promising tech specs. Granted, some of the hype may have been overstated — these batteries don't necessarily represent a greener option than other types, which are just as recyclable, or even more so — but the differences are real and worth studying.
Lithium ion batteries can deliver the following capabilities for your forklift fleet:
The specifications for traditional lead acid batteries show how these cells differ, making them suitable for some circumstances:
As with any operational decision affecting your logistics performance, your choice of battery solution should not be made on a side-by-side technology comparison alone. Rather, you should consider the traits of battery options in the context of your material handling needs and unique environment.
The issues with managing lithium ion batteries should be familiar to any company managing other battery technologies, though the areas of focus shift a little when considering this new option. In all cases, trained experts aware of industry best practices are essential to the success of the program.
The following are a few concepts that become especially important when introducing lithium ion technology to your warehouse:
Ideally, revamping your forklift battery deployment will yield better outcomes all around, including less downtime on the floor for greater productivity, increased asset life span for better total cost of ownership and more strategic operations in general. Getting to this goal through a lithium ion deployment is possible with effort and preparation.
How do you ensure your next battery deployment is actively pushing your operations in the right direction? This process begins with an honest appraisal of your current system and your operational goals. In short, you need to start with an operational and power assessment.
Once you gather the data on your current solutions, you can start to formulate a response.With an expert partner such as Concentric on your side, you can weigh the relative value of new deployments, which may involve a switch to lithium ion power or continued, refreshed use of lead acid battery cells.
The actual management of those batteries can be the real difference-maker, and that could take a few forms:
Any of these options may be best matched with lithium ion batteries, traditional lead acid batteries or other alternative methods such as hydrogen fuel cells and thin plate pure lead cells.
The right technology is the one that will get your company the best possible results. Request a power assessment today to find out what that means for you.