For those forklift users who have not changed their motive power usage in many years now could be a good time to reconsider the widening choice available, for such have been the advances in existing and new technologies that by sticking with your time-honoured choices could be an expensive mistake.
The old triumvirate of electric, diesel and LPG is under attack by newcomers like hydrogen fuel cells but more importantly an upheaval is taking place within the electric camp which now more effectively challenges the stalwarts of diesel and LPG, but with all these changes how does one decide which is best for them?
The main answer lies with one’s own operational needs and close cooperation with a motive power source provider so that they can come up with a solution that best suits one’s individual needs, while not losing sight of the crucial environmental issue which is forcing legislative changes on the industry.
Electric is undoubtedly seeing a swing towards it for various reasons, not least its punchier performance, but within its camp the choice is widening to include lithium-ion and iron-phosphate, now tilting at the lead-acid battery market, so it’s important to consult an electric battery supplier offering all types. Jason Howlett, MD of Hoppecke Batteries for Northern Europe, believes lithium-ion will take over the world but only “in certain circumstances… but I don’t think it will ever fully replace lead,” he says. Moreover, it could be the case that much cheaper nickel-cadmium would do the job just as well.
Hoppecke’s continuing innovation in this area now allows them to retro-fit their latest lithium product into an existing tray system. Given, however, the much higher initial cost of lithium batteries (typically 3-4 times higher than leadacid) potential buyers will want more than just verbal assurances that money will be saved owing to their much greater longevity and fast and opportunity charging that can eliminate standby batteries in multi-shift operations and the safety hazards associated with lead-acid.
Linde Material Handling, therefore, offers a software tool (calculator) that shows the cost effectiveness of the technology by recommending the optimum combination of battery size and charger for each specific application, as well as how much money will be saved by switching to lithium-ion trucks. A forklift company Linde’s size not unsurprisingly is offering the widest choice of power sources and so hydrogen fuel cells are in there.
This year, at its World Materials Handling Exhibition, it demonstrated a prototype fuel-cell reach truck that could be charged in under seven minutes (8-10 hours for lead-acid batteries). This makes fuel cells a viable alternative in multishift operations, with big companies like Amazon and Walmart each committing $600 million to them.
But it is not economically viable in most cases, says Linde, and while clean at point of use its environmental credentials vary depending on the source of the hydrogen and how it is delivered to site. Even so, one must not dismiss the possibility that fuel cell prices will fall as the industry grows.
None of this means that the traditional IC diesel and LPG trucks will be disappearing any time soon, and leading forklift makers are constantly improving their efficiency and low emissions, a good example being Linde’s EVO diesel cb range, said to be up to 28% more fuel efficient than its previous model, Even so, one cannot ignore the growing hostility of authorities towards any on and off-road vehicles using diesel, buttressed by pending legislation.
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