Forklifts equipped with lithium batteries have many advantages: they have high energy density and are very efficient. If green power is used, they have no emissions, they do not need maintenance, and have a longer service life, but most importantly; They are ideal energy solutions for opportunity charging. Opportunity charging means you can charge the forklift at any time without using it, even during your 15 minute break. This in class charging means that, unlike lead-acid batteries, you don't need to replace lithium batteries. If you want to switch to lithium batteries, there are many ways to organize your operation around opportunity charging. Let's give you some tips first.
Find out when your forklift is not in use
Let's see when and how long your forklift is used. With networked forklifts, it is much easier to calculate the utilization rate; Just look at I_ Fleet management data on site tool, which displays data from networked intelligent forklifts. Experience tells us that in a shift, warehouse forklifts are often not actively used for more than 50% of the time. This means that there is plenty of room to charge your inactive forklift during working hours. Use I_ Site and networked forklift, you can easily check the charging time of each forklift. In this way, your driver will no longer have to worry about running out of battery.
Look at your warehouse layout
Chargers only need a reliable power supply to power your equipment, which means they are relatively flexible where you want to install them. So let's take a closer look at your site plan; Think your charger needs to be close to your canteen area? We assure you that this is not necessary. You can install the charger near the area where your operator leaves the forklift. This is one of the many advantages of lithium batteries over lead-acid batteries: you don't need a separate charging room because the charger can be placed anywhere on your site. Make your warehouse more flexible and free up some space. We'll give you some tips on where to place the charger.
Take a look at your warehouse process. What forklifts are you using, when and where are you using them? Knowing when, where and when the forklift is used will help you determine the best place to place the charger.
Check your country's security aspects and legislation: there may be some rules or laws you must abide by. In some countries, you cannot place the charger within 2.5 meters of paper or combustibles. If this condition cannot be met, you can add a metal plate on the top of the charger. Be sure to press the stop button before disconnecting your charger.
Determine where forklifts are parked: where do you have space to park your forklifts, where will they naturally park? These places are good places to install chargers. You can establish appropriate forklift parking spaces, or install warehouse policies to indicate where you can or cannot park.
Rebuild your empty old lead-acid battery charging room: you can use this area to install lithium-ion chargers. Of course, lithium batteries don't need a separate room to charge, but if you have a spare room, why not use it?
Prevent power peak
If you decide to charge all forklifts at once, for example, during lunch time, it may cause power peaks and increase your electricity bill. This is why all of our smart chargers come with a dynamic limit on your cost. In many countries, electricity tariffs are based on peak usage. Therefore, the key to reducing your bill is to control these peaks. DPL works with smart chargers to ensure that when you charge several forklifts at the same time, the forklift with the least remaining battery will get more power. This makes it super easy to manage your peak power consumption and reduce costs.
Keep your battery happy by establishing good charging habits
Lithium battery has many advantages for operation with good charging habits. If your operator develops the habit of charging the forklift when it is not in use, you will keep your forklift running normally and ensure maximum productivity.
We found that the average life of lead-acid batteries was reduced by 30% due to wrong charging habits (based on the average data of 5000 forklifts). The battery still has a certain battery capacity when charging, which reduces the overall service life of lead-acid battery. With lithium batteries, opportunity charging will not have an impact on the battery life cycle. You don't have to worry about remaining power or overcharging. Therefore, your driver can charge their forklift when they really have time.
In general, when considering the time period for charging the equipment, the rest time will be considered. Your driver can also charge the forklift when it is not in use. It depends on the intensity of the shift and what is easier for your employees. Help your driver establish a good opportunity charging schedule and make it a habit to plug in the forklift when leaving. When switching from lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries, opportunistic charging will help you maintain high productivity and low cost.
