Why You Should Consider New Lithium-Ion Batteries for Your Lift Truck

In response to the COVID-19 crisis and shortages nationwide, some companies are ramping up production to quickly get products to plug .

Pricing of lithium-ion batteries is slowly changing from obscenely expensive to only moderately unaffordable, and that we at BSLBATT are seeing a gentle increase in sales of this sort of battery. Most users seem to place them to figure in RVs, fifth-wheels, campers, stationary off-grid systems, and similar vehicles, while some are going into forklift battery systems.

As a part of this production increase, many companies are moving their operations from one shift to multiple shifts to remedy these shortages. For companies that utilize forklifts and other material handling equipment, lithium-ion batteries are an excellent fit a move to multi-shift operations without requiring the acquisition of additional batteries.

In fact, companies that are ramping up their production can believe lithium-ion batteries as an efficient and safe choice for his or her operations. Here’s why.

Longer Run Times

Lithium ion Forklift Battery Companies that are adding production time to their operations know that having a forklift battery which will be in commission as long as possible is that the key to maintaining productivity.

Lithium-ion batteries, on the average , run about 7.2 hours before requiring a charge. they will even be safely discharged right down to 20% capacity.

A lead acid battery, on the opposite hand, typically requires charging after just 5.4 hours of use and may only be safely discharged right down to about 30% capacity.

Swapping A battery after just over 5 hours of use can cause costly downtime for workers . and through high production times, every minute counts.

Shorter Charging Times

Lithium-ion batteries are often fully charged in 1 to 2 hours. But another benefit is that they will be opportunity charged for 15 or half-hour here or there without permanent damage to the cell’s capacity. this suggests that in between shifts or while employees are on break, lithium-ion batteries are often charged and immediately return into service.

Lead acid batteries, in contrast, require 8 hours to charge and must also undergo a cooldown period that takes them out of service for an additional 8 hours.

For multi-shift operations, lithium-ion batteries and lead acid batteries differ dramatically when it involves their charging times, and thus in-service availability. One lithium-ion battery are often in commission throughout a 24-hour period. During that very same period of your time , three lead acid batteries would be needed.

Simpler Charging Process

lithium-ion forklift battery companies ramping up their production to multiple shifts know that any sort of downtime are often costly.

Utilizing A battery that has an easier charging process makes it easier for crews to quickly charge the battery and obtain it back to service.

Lithium-ion batteries don’t require separate charging rooms and don’t got to be faraway from the lift equipment so as to be charged. Forklift operators simply drives to the charger and connects the battery to the charger while it’s still within the forklift.

The charging process for a lead acid battery is far more complex and time-consuming. When A battery must be charged, a forklift operator must drive the forklift to a delegated battery charging room.

Because the lead must be taken out of the forklift to charge, special lifting equipment must be wont to remove the battery and place it on a storage rack where the charging are going to be done. As mentioned above, this charging process lasts approximately 8 hours.

Afterward, a cooling down stage takes another 8 hours. The battery will either remain where it had been charged to chill down or personnel may transport it to a delegated cooling area if the space is required within the battery room to charge other batteries.

All combined, the charging process for a lead acid battery is far more complicated than that of a lithium-ion battery.

No Battery Room Required 

Another advantage of using lithium-ion batteries is that you’ll eliminate the need for a dedicated battery room in your warehouse. 

Lead-acid batteries require the installation of a battery room, where they will be stored and charged when not in use. While charging, these batteries will emit dangerous hydrogen / sulfuric gas fumes (gassing), so the room will need to be well-ventilated and kept cool which adds significantly to operating costs.

When using lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, you’ll only need one battery per truck.  Since there is no gassing problem, and opportunity charging can be done almost anywhere, there is no need for an expensive ventilated and air-conditioned battery room. You’ll no longer need to worry about storing spare batteries or charging batteries in a special room. In fact, with lithium batteries you can look for the most appropriate places to put chargers throughout your facility, to encourage drivers to put the lift on charge when not in use. This will lower costs and increase uptime.

Ultimately, this means that you’ll be able to return that square footage to your warehouse for storage or production or anything that makes the company money.

Minimal Maintenance

With production for a few companies at an all-time high, there’s little time for maintenance. the great news is that lithium-ion batteries require no regular maintenance.

That’s because unlike lead acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries don’t got to be watered. this protects important time and manpower that’s getting used elsewhere in your operations to stay up with high production needs immediately .

In lead acid batteries, water levels must be precisely controlled. Typically, the battery’s electrolyte levels are checked once every week and refilled with distilled or deionized water.

Workers must also monitor the battery to ensure:

Water levels don’t drop too low that the highest of the lead plates is exposed (about every 10 charge cycles)

Water used must be between 5 and seven on the pH

Enough space is left for the liquids inside to expand, which occurs when the battery is in use

The cells are equalized regularly and temperature is controlled throughout the charging process

Failure to properly maintain the water level can cause permanent degradation of the battery’s capacity.

Enhanced Safety

While productivity is vital for any operation, ensuring employees are safe is critical … especially during extraordinarily busy times.

Lithium-ion batteries offer enhanced safety features to make sure that you simply are becoming the foremost out of your battery while protecting employees at an equivalent time.

Because lithium-ion batteries don’t require watering, there’s no possibility of a spill occurring. When employing a lead acid battery, there’s a risk that highly-toxic vitriol can splash onto the body or within the eyes, causing serious injuries.

There is also minimal risk of overheating when using lithium-ion batteries because the battery management system (BMS) tracks cell temperatures to make sure they continue to be in safe operating ranges. In lead acid batteries, the electrolyte solution can overheat, increasing pressure inside the battery. this will damage the battery plates, or worse, cause an explosion.

Lastly, lithium-ion batteries don’t emit potentially harmful gases when charging, unlike lead acid batteries. Because lead acid batteries can produce hydrogen gas while charging, especially if overcharged, they require separate, well-ventilated areas during this process.

Battery Co$t of Lithium-Ion vs. Lead-Acid（Saves Money ）

As i’m scripting this , our BSLBATT 48V 535Ah battery costs $7,900 USD dollars. the complete 535Ah is certainly usable, in order that makes 48 x 535 = 25,680 Watt-hour in energy storage, or $1 per Wh in usable energy storage.

One of our best-bang-for-the-deep-cycle-buck lead-acid batteries is that the BULLSBATTERY BZB-550, currently going for $2700 for 48V 550Ah in storage. With lead-acid only 80% is basically reasonably useful, going into rock bottom 20% of energy storage may be a recipe for permanent battery damage, so we’ve 48 x 550 x 0.8 = 21,120 Wh in energy storage. that creates for 2700 / 21,120 = $0.127 per Wh in usable energy storage.

This is where you say, “wait a moment , those d@m$ lithium batteries are nearly five times the worth of lead-acid!!”. Immediately followed by “but I still actually need one!”, and right you are: We didn’t figure the difference in battery life in yet.

The BULLSBATTERY BZB-550 is sweet for around 1300 cycles at 50% Depth-Of-Discharge (DOD), while the BSLBATT will do 6000 cycles at that very same 50% DOD. meaning the lithium-ion battery goes to last about 4.6x as long! Over the lifetime of one set of LFP batteries, the value per usable Wh for lead-acid now works bent 4.6 x 0.127 = $0.584, almost an equivalent as lithium-ion! there’s more thereto than that: In real world , few people will get the complete cycle life out of lead-acid batteries. it’s too easy to possess them take offense to your treatment and prematurely depart for the large Battery within the Sky. If you are doing make them go the space , there’s watering, measuring relative density , and taking care to regularly recharge them lest they sulfate. None of that’s needed for lithium-ion!

We bet at now you’re willing to contribute that no-good spouse of yours together with your first-born with great care you’ll replace your lead-acid with lithium-ion batteries!

A Great fit Temporary Solutions

Many companies are experiencing a rise in demand for his or her products and are responding by increasing their rate of production. Purchasing additional forklifts and batteries is an option, but managers should consider whether this demand may decrease or level once the COVID-19 crisis abates.

However, there’s another solution companies can concede to meet current, short-term demands: renting forklifts. Choosing a rental company that gives lithium-ion batteries because the power source for its forklifts will provide your company with an equivalent benefits outlined above.

You can read more about the advantages of selecting lithium-ion in forklift rentals in our article, Lithium-ion is that the more sensible choice To Power A Forklift Rental.

Lithium-ion batteries are an excellent fit multi-shift operations, especially people who have experienced a rise in production in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only do lithium-ion batteries feature longer run times and shorter charging times in comparison to lead-acid batteries, but they even have an easier charging process, require minimal maintenance, and are safer for workers .

Ready to get lithium-ion batteries for your trucks? Click here to start selecting the right batteries for your needs with our battery configurator.