opinion battery technology l
The Li-ion roars back
Following last month's piece on lithium ion (Li-ion) battery technology, in which Hoppecke's Gus Whyte questioned the charge towards embracing this technology, Bill Goodwin, sales director of Jungheinrich UK Ltd., writes to support its introduction to the world of materials handling equipment.
ithium-ion batteries have been used for many years in consumer electronics and have been growing in popularity for military, electric vehicle and aerospace applications. They have several advantages over traditional lead acid batteries. Namely they have a higher energy density which means that for their size or
L
Lithium-ion technology is available today and we expect companies to be attracted by its environmental credentials as well as performance benefits.
weight they can store more energy. Lithium-ion batteries also have a low discharge rate so they retain their charge for longer.
Jungheinrich has been researching alternative fuels for a number of years and has seen the twin benefits of rapid charging and long running times. Lithium-ion will become more and more widely used as a power source for materials handling equipment.
54 ShD October 2011
www.PressOnShD.com
Of course, at present, there are limits to the type of materials handling equipment where lithium ion batteries can be used. Within counterbalanced trucks, for example, the traditional lead acid battery performs a vital function as a counterweight as well powering the vehicle so, at the moment, lithium ion technology does not lend itself for use with this particular type of forklift. However for smaller trucks – such as powered pallet trucks – lithium ion technology is ideal and we believe that the recent launch of Jungheinrich’s EJE 112i lithium-ion powered pallet truck represents one of the most significant developments in forklift design for many years.
Charging the new powered pallet truck is quick and simple – it takes just 30 minutes to deliver a 50% charge and the battery is fully charged within 80 minutes. The short charging times enable more flexible truck utilisation and ‘opportunity charging’ – something that will be particularly welcome at sites running multiple shifts.
With the Jungheinrich EJE 112i, a
single charge is sufficient to power the truck through a typical eight hour shift and, importantly, when it comes to recharging, a dedicated charging bay is not required. The battery is simply removed by hand from the truck and placed within a recharging docking device that can be positioned near a power supply anywhere within the building. The simplicity of the recharging process also reduces the need for dedicated battery charging room personnel enabling further cost savings to be made.
As with any new technology, there is a price premium for lithium ion – our lithium ion powered trucks are some three times the price of traditional lead acid powered alternative – but from extensive trials undertaken - the payback of the life of the truck is considerable.
Lithium-ion technology is no longer a forklift power source for the future – it is available today and we expect companies to be attracted by its environmental credentials as well as performance benefits. ●
www.jungheinrich.co.uk
opinion
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76