Electric and propane lift trucks are two popular alternatives to diesel-powered options. Electric forklifts commonly use lead-acid batteries, but lithium-ion batteries are growing in popularity. Propane forklifts, also called LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) forklifts, are powered by propane.
Your fleet’s power source affects the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of handling operations. Learn three benefits of electric forklifts over propane to understand how going electric can help your business.
Lithium-ion technology is popular in modern batteries thanks to faster charging times and higher power density. Lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries are two common types of batteries that use lithium-ion technology. Learn the differences between lithium-ion and polymer batteries to understand how each option performs.
Forklifts are powerful machines that rely on well-maintained batteries for safe and effective operation. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended battery charging protocols to ensure the performance and longevity of your equipment. Learn three costly forklift battery charging mistakes to avoid.
Choosing a forklift battery is a key consideration for maximizing efficiency, improving productivity, and controlling costs. Lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries are two prominent options for powering forklifts. Compare performance, maintenance, lifespan, and environmental impact to determine whether lithium batteries are better than lead-acid for forklifts.
A forklift’s weight and capacity seem similar, but they refer to different measurements. The forklift weight is the vehicle’s weight, while the lift capacity is how much weight the truck can carry.
Weight and capacity are two important characteristics that affect how you should operate a forklift. Learn more about the difference between electric forklift weight and capacity.
When operated correctly, electric forklifts handle heavy loads safely. Read the truck’s data plate for information such as its weight and load capacity. Learn how to read and understand an electric forklift data plate.
Proper maintenance protects forklift batteries and ensures you get the most use out of your equipment. Taking care of the battery improves its performance and saves your business money. Use these four tips to get the most out of your forklift battery.
Only charge your battery once it is depleted to 20–30 percent of its charge capacity. If you charge before it reaches 30 percent, you will shorten the battery’s lifespan. And using the battery after it has less than 20 percent charge will increase wear on the unit.
Completely charging a lead-acid battery takes about eight hours. After charging, let your battery cool for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time before use—typically another eight hours.
Maintaining the electrolyte level is key for getting the most out of your forklift battery. Typically, batteries require deionized water, but you should follow your manufacturer’s instructions to be sure. Watering will keep the electrolyte at the right acid-to-water ratio.
Only water the battery at the end of the charge cycle. Watering before or during the charge cycle increases the chance of a boil-over, pushing hazardous sulfuric acid outside the battery.
Proper battery storage protects the equipment’s working lifespan. Prevent sulfation by fully charging the battery and adding water before storage. Store in a dry location and ensure air can circulate around the battery. Protect the top of the battery from dust and debris.
Generally, you should store forklift batteries at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not place batteries near sources of heat, such as radiators.
Finally, forklift batteries have an average lifespan of about five years or 1,500 charge cycles. Workloads and battery maintenance affect how long your battery will operate. Fortunately, once your battery reaches the end of its initial lifecycle, you can have it professionally reconditioned to give it a second life.
At Green Power Forklift Batteries, we use an 18-stage reconditioning process to maximize the functional lifespan of batteries and ensure high performance. Contact us for more information on how refurbished forklift batteries can benefit your business.
A supply chain management plan coordinates processes to optimize the shipping and delivery of goods and services. Creating a plan with green initiatives in mind helps lower energy usage and minimize waste in supply chains. Discover a few key tips for creating a green supply chain management plan.
Supply chain systems connect producers, transportation companies, warehouses, distribution centers, and retailers. People at every step of the supply chain should re-examine their practices to ensure they don’t over-rely on raw materials.
Producers can evaluate how new technologies and innovations can improve their manufacturing processes. Redesigning a product to include fewer components or use recycled materials can help preserve natural resources.
Another key tip for creating a green supply chain management plan is to optimize transportation. Strategies for eco-friendly shipping focus on lightening the weight of goods and moving products on efficient routes. As electric vehicles grow more popular, hybrid and electric delivery fleets become more attractive.
Additionally, a route-planning system helps save time and fuel on deliveries. Software that automatically informs drivers of road closures, traffic issues, and the best routes to use in real time makes trips more efficient.
Finally, reusing and recycling materials ensures you extract the full value of items before throwing them out. Supply chain members, from producers to retailers, can reuse materials and recycle.
One way that warehouses and distribution centers have improved their sustainability efforts is by replacing internal combustion (IC) forklifts with electric forklifts. Managers can further enhance sustainability by using refurbished forklift batteries.
Refurbished forklift batteries retain high charge capacity but cost a fraction of the price of new forklift batteries. At Green Power Forklift Batteries, our refurbished batteries have a minimum of 85 percent of the rated capacity of new batteries. Check out our selection of reconditioned forklift batteries for sale for a cost-effective way to improve your business’s sustainability.
Electric forklifts have lower operating costs than forklifts with internal combustion engines. They’re also more energy efficient, which makes them eco-friendlier. Create a properly functioning charging area and keep workers safe with these tips for setting up a forklift battery charging station.
OSHA outlines safety standards for creating a lead-acid battery charging station because the charging process can create hazards. The risks associated with charging are exposure to corrosive chemicals, electrolyte boil-over, mismatched voltage, electric shock, excessive heating, and fumes. Refer to OSHA standard 1910.178(g) to create a safe charging station.
The charging station will need facilities for flushing and neutralizing spilled electrolyte and for fire protection. The flooring material should resist acid damage. Place bollards or barriers around chargers to protect them from being damaged by lift trucks. The room needs adequate ventilation for dispersing fumes from gassing batteries.
Train employees on proper lift truck management, how to use battery-handling equipment, and safety precautions to follow. Post signs throughout the space reminding personnel of hazards and precautions.
The next tip for setting up a forklift battery charging station is to choose an area that has adequate electrical service and space. Calculate power requirements based on your lift trucks’ needs and ventilation and cooling equipment.
Consider the size and number of lift trucks that will enter the charging station and the floor space you need for battery storage. You can invest in a vertical storage system to save floor space. Don’t forget to leave enough square footage for future growth, which will require more batteries and more electric lift trucks.
Mount all four corners of each charger on a shelf. If you are stacking the chargers, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure adequate ventilation.
The DC cable leads should connect to the battery without going over the manufacturer’s recommended cable lead length. Personnel should have easy access to chargers for maintenance.
Depending on your lift trucks, you’ll need equipment for overhead or side extraction. Overhead battery extractors use a fork attachment and lifting beam that lifts batteries vertically from the truck.
For a smaller fleet with just one or two trucks, you can use a portable gantry crane. For larger fleets, a track-mounted crane works better.
Side extraction equipment usually uses a vacuum or magnetic arm to remove the battery. Equipment such as walkie transfer carriages and battery transfer carriages keep the battery at a constant height during extraction and replacement.
Improve your fleet’s energy efficiency with electric forklifts. Green Power Forklift Batteries has new and refurbished industrial forklift batteries for sale. Shop for the best lead-acid forklift batteries today.
A small amount of battery sulfation is a normal process for lead-acid batteries. But when the buildup of lead sulfate crystals becomes excessive, it reduces the battery’s performance and can cause it to fail. Read on to learn more about forklift battery sulfation causes and prevention.
A lead-acid battery has lead plates and lead dioxide plates. The plates are in an electrolyte solution of sulfuric acid diluted in water.
When batteries discharge, the lead active material on the plates reacts with the electrolyte. This reaction creates lead sulfate residue on the plates.
During normal use, the lead sulfate residue is only temporary. Sulfation will disperse during recharging. But when large lead sulfate crystals become permanent, they damage the battery.
Knowing the causes of forklift battery sulfation can help you prevent the problem. Sulfation happens as a normal result of the battery’s chemical processes. But the following factors can increase the rate or amount of sulfation to a harmful degree:
Practice good battery care and maintenance to avoid these common causes of battery sulfation. For example, if you need to store a battery, fully charge it and place it in a temperature-controlled space.
If your battery takes longer to charge or needs to charge more often, you might have a sulfated battery. The buildup can also cause excessive heat and complete battery failure.
There are two types of sulfation. Soft sulfation, otherwise known as reversible sulfation, and hard sulfation, also called permanent sulfation, which is irreversible.
If you recognize sulfation early enough, an experienced professional can sometimes reverse it. One indication of soft sulfation is when a fully charged battery can hold a stable voltage on discharge. But if the voltage drops rapidly, the battery likely has hard sulfation.
If you see signs of sulfation, contact Green Power Forklift Batteries. As a premier forklift battery dealer, we thoroughly inspect and recondition batteries. If your battery has permanent sulfation, we have new and refurbished batteries to keep your business running. Contact us today.
Green Power Forklift Batteries is an industrial forklift battery company that reconditions lead-acid forklift batteries, giving its customers the environmentally friendly and economically sound choice
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