If you're a business owner or manager who relies on forklifts to run your business, the type of industrial battery you choose will have a huge impact on the overall efficiency of your business, and that's true whether you have just one forklift or a fleet complete of forklifts in use. Depending on the type of electric forklift battery a company chooses, it could save a lot of time and money in the long run.
This guide will walk you through the different types of forklift batteries, their key differences, forklift battery price ranges, and how these battery options will affect the overall efficiency of your daily business operations.
Types of forklift batteries
After determining what size battery is compatible with your forklift, the next important consideration is to use: lithium-ion versus lead acid forklift batteries.
Electric forklifts are generally powered by either of two main types of batteries:
- lead acid
- lithium ions
While there are other forklift power options, such as propane or diesel, or gas power, 2/3 of those put into service each year are electric.
The technology behind each of these industrial batteries is very different and therefore has a different impact on the efficiency of the forklift.
Lead acid batteries are the old school standard for powering forklifts. They are bulky, liquid-filled units with a removable top that generate electricity through a chemical reaction of lead plates and sulfuric acid. Its technology dates back to 1859 and involves try here regularly refilling the units with water (which is also necessary for the chemical processes of electricity generation that take place inside). Lithium-ion batteries are a newer technology, having been first used in a commercial product in the early 1990s, a Sony camcorder. Lithium-ion Battery Pack for Forklift Trucks have many different chemistries. One of the most popular chemicals for the material handling industry is lithium iron phosphate (LFP). It is more compact and energy dense than lead acid. The cells are sealed and do not require water maintenance.
Forklift battery life span
Like any business expense, electric forklift batteries are a cost that must be dealt with on a regular basis.
The type of battery a company uses in its forklifts determines how often workers will need to replace the battery. Lead acid and lithium ion batteries have different lifespans:
- Lead Acid: 1000 - 1500 cycles
- Lithium ion: 3500 cycles
These are averages and may vary based on battery maintenance.
A lithium-ion forklift battery needs to be replaced less often, which is a major factor in why business owners prefer them to conventional lead acid batteries, which need to be replaced with new ones more often.
Forklift Battery Capacity Maintenance
Both lithium-ion batteries and their lead-acid counterparts must be cared for properly in order for them to perform to their full potential. Their lifespan will decrease if forklift batteries are not properly maintained.
To maximize battery life and overall battery capacity, certain steps should be taken for users of both battery types. However, lead acid batteries require more care and attention compared to lithium ion batteries.
Lead acid forklift batteries require:
Equalization (Cell Balancing) - Traditional technology like this leads to a frequent state where the acid and water inside are stratified (separated horizontally with the more concentrated acid closer to the bottom). This state forms sulfate crystals at the bottom of cells and weakens their ability to hold a charge. Equalizing will break up the sulfate crystals, but if the battery has been neglected for too long, the crystals will not break down.
Temperature control: Lead acid batteries must be kept within a certain temperature range, otherwise they will have a shorter lifespan. On top of that, they also get very hot during charging, which requires them to be charged and stored in a temperature-controlled space.
Fluid Level Management – These types of units should be checked to make sure they have enough water about once every 10 charge cycles.
Lithium ion batteries are much less necessary when it comes to forklift battery maintenance as they self equalize, work well at much higher temperatures (making temperature not an issue mostly) and do not require any liquid level management.
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