With the FalcOn, Jungheinrich is offering a glimpse of the next stage in the development of electric heavy-duty forklifts. The vehicle, with a load capacity of 5 tonnes and a load centre of 600 mm, demonstrates the performance and application potential that high-voltage technology can unlock in material handling in the future.
The counterbalance truck is based on the current EFG Series 5 and was developed to test the integration of high-voltage technology under realistic conditions.
The focus is on application scenarios in which electric forklifts have previously reached their limits – such as with heavy loads, long inclines or continuous outdoor use in demanding climatic conditions. This is precisely where the FalcOn comes in, addressing industries such as beverage, building materials and automotive supply logistics, where combustion engine vehicles still dominate today.
“With the FalcOn, we want to show that electric forklifts can be a real alternative to combustion engines even in the toughest operating profiles,” says Andreas Schiller, Global Portfolio Lead Counterbalance Heavy Trucks at Jungheinrich. “To this end, we have developed a completely new, optimally coordinated overall system that is unique in this form. The counterbalance truck is visible proof of the performance potential of high-voltage technology.”
Performance that makes a difference in everyday work
The FalcOn is designed for a load capacity of 5,000 kilograms with a load centre of 600 millimetres – a typical requirement profile for heavy handling processes in outdoor and indoor areas. Combined with dynamic acceleration and a driving speed of up to 26 km/h, the vehicle demonstrates how much handling performance can be gained when transporting heavy loads in the electric forklift sector. The forklift reaches the 15-metre mark in around 4.6 seconds with a load and in around 4.0 seconds without a load.
The high-voltage vehicle also sets standards when it comes to lifting: with a lifting speed of 0.6 m/s under load, the forklift demonstrates the productivity potential that can be tapped into with stable, high-performance hydraulics, especially during high-frequency lifting and lowering operations in continuous use.
A key factor in the high availability is the fast-charging capability of the high-voltage system. The FalcOn can be charged with direct current and charging capacities of up to 150 kW via an automotive-compliant CCS-2 interface. In practice, this means that a time window of around 30 minutes is sufficient to charge the battery from around 20 to 80 per cent, a decisive advantage for high-frequency multi-shift applications with short downtimes.
Integrated high-voltage system for maximum productivity
Technologically, Jungheinrich relies on a fully integrated drive concept for the FalcOn. At its heart is an actively cooled high-voltage system in which all central drive components are water-cooled. This keeps the power output stable even under high continuous loads and high outside temperatures, without the power limitations typical of electric forklifts.
Added to this is a sensitive drive concept with individually controlled wheel motors. This architecture, familiar from the automotive sector, enables precise response and reversing behaviour, thus contributing significantly to high productivity during frequent direction changes and demanding manoeuvres.
“It is not just the voltage level that is decisive, but the interaction of all components,” explains Dr Jasper Schnack, Project Manager for the development of the FalcOn at Jungheinrich. “Only through active cooling, a suitable system architecture and precise application can high-voltage technology really play to its full potential in the heavy forklift segment.”
A technology vision with perspective
The FalcOn will be on display at LogiMAT 2026 and exemplifies Jungheinrich’s technological development direction in the heavy truck segment. At the same time, the company is preparing the next stage of the project, in which selected customers will be involved at an early stage of the further development of the heavy-duty electric forklift truck with high-voltage technology.
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