Innovative lithium-ion technology for 48V forklifts
Innovative lithium-ion technology for 48V forklifts / High availability thanks to fast recharging and interim charging / Integrated battery management system / Long battery life
In 2011 Jungheinrich was the first manufacturer to present a lithium-ion vehicle ready for mass production. In 2014 it followed up by unveiling a new generation of proprietary lithium-ion batteries in the 24V range, which could be recharged within 30 minutes for an entire shift – a quantum leap in energy storage technology. This successful trajectory is further being continued with the introduction of the first lithium-ion batteries in the 48 Volt range with 360 and 480 ampere hours. This means that this completely maintenance-free technology can now also be applied to counterbalance forklifts and reach trucks.
“Jungheinrich was the first company to implement and continually refine lithium-ion technology in the context of mass-produced industrial trucks. In the intervening years Jungheinrich has accumulated world-leading expertise in mobility applications for lithium-ion batteries. This competence has been distilled into a new Energy and Drive Systems division, organising a total of some 200 staff members at the Norderstedt plant near Hamburg,” reports Dirk Schüler from Product Management at Jungheinrich Energy and Drive Systems.
Multi-shift operation with no battery change
Users benefit economically and ecologically from fast recharging times, zero maintenance and a long battery life, as the option of short interim charging times increases the availability of electric stackers. This makes possible permanent fleet operation of up to 24 hours, seven days a week without requiring a battery change.
Even after an interim charging time of just 40 minutes the high-performance energy cells with 360 Ah take on 50 percent of their capacity. After 80 minutes the Jungheinrich li-ion battery with 360 Ah achieves its full charge.
By eliminating the need to change the battery, the fleet operator is relieved not only of the expense of buying a second battery, but also of the cost of battery changing equipment, special charging stations and the time required to perform the battery change – not to mention the reduction in workplace accidents during battery changes, which the new system makes unnecessary. It moreover eliminates all the traditional maintenance activities attached to lead-acid systems.
Sustainable and energy-efficient
Using state-of-the-art lithium-ion technology Jungheinrich has developed a completely maintenance-free battery which convinces on the basis of an impressive life expectancy of up to 3,000 full cycles and a considerably higher number of partial cycles. By way of comparison, the average life of lead-acid batteries constitutes 900 to 1,200 cycles.
To guarantee a maximum of efficiency, safety and convenience in daily operations, the battery, charging device and vehicle are all perfectly coordinated with each other. And the battery is permanently monitored by an innovative, integrated battery management system. The resulting high voltage stability of these lithium-ion batteries translates into improved performance over the entire operating cycle. And higher currents can be recovered (recuperation), making the industrial trucks up to 20% more energy efficient while yielding higher throughput. This improved energy efficiency translates into the battery requiring less primary energy (mains power). “This means that lithium-ion technology guarantees completely worry-free operation. It protects our environment via the best CO2 footprint compared with any other energy storage system. And it is easy to handle and manage,” explains Dirk Schüler from Product Management at Jungheinrich Energy and Drive Systems.
Lithium-ion batteries are free of the operative restrictions caused by escaping gases or acid as is the case with conventional lead-acid batteries. As a result, vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can be used without a second thought for operations in the food industry, even at temperatures ranging from -20 to 55° C.
For further information and enquiries, please contact
NTP Forklifts Australia
Greg McNamara - National Jungheinrich Product Manager
Email - GMcNamara@ntpforklifts.com.au
Phone - (03)8795-5999
Mobile - +61 414 308 933
www.ntpforklifts.com.au