MOVING & LIFTING
HOW TPPL TECHNOLOGY HAS BROADENED BATTERY CHOICE FOR MATERIAL HANDLING ELECTRIC VEHICLES
TPPL batteries have the benefit of flexibility without the higher-cost of Li-ion. The NexSys Core battery from EnerSys is an excellent alternative to lead-acid batteries, both flooded and Gel VRLA. It is suited for low and medium-duty applications. Meanwhile, the NexSys Pure battery uses TPPL technology with the addition of carbon. It is optimised for medium to heavy-duty applications as an alternative to Li-ion batteries.
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arehouses and production areas are under increasing pressure to maximise productivity and return on investment. This has led to more attention on the role of materials handling vehicles, particularly the cost and performance of the batteries and the technology that power them. As an example, users of material handling vehicles today will not accept a loss in productivity due to battery-related downtime. It is simply no longer possible to remove a vehicle from service to charge or change out batteries and perform routine maintenance tasks. In addition, there is a trend to lease vehicles instead of making an outright purchase. Changing a battery during a lease term is undesirable because the new battery will not be spent by the end of the contract, leading to waste.
A BROAD SPECTRUM OF BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES
Choosing a battery solution is affected by factors like initial cost, performance, maintenance, charging, stock management and recycling. High performing technologies, such as Thin Plate Pure Lead Batteries (TPPL), offer an attractive alternative to both the traditional solutions of lead-acid or new-comers such as lithium-ion (Li-ion). There are two main types of TPPL battery. The first is a “standard” TPPL solution supplied as a direct alternative to lead- acid batteries. The second is a TPPL solution enhanced with carbon addition. This battery offers a high-performance and cost-effective alternative to Li-ion batteries, especially in heavy-duty applications, thanks to greatly extended cycle life.
FACTORS THAT COMPROMISE TRUCK PRODUCTIVITY
Each battery type has different charging and safety requirements, which impact on truck productivity. Flooded lead-acid batteries typically need long charging cycles during or after a shift. This means taking a vehicle out of service or changing the battery. For safety reasons, lead-acid batteries require dedicated charging rooms with ventilation. Regular water top-ups are part of normal operation, but also create the risk of acid spills. Also, overcharging batteries by 10 – 20 per cent minimises stratification but adds to the energy demand. All these factors contribute to the total cost of ownership (TCO) for a lead-acid battery setup. Gel type valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries have advantages over flooded lead-acid batteries. They do not require water top-up, and their overcharge factor is only 8 – 10 per cent, thus reducing the energy demand for charging. However, they do not allow for opportunity charging or fast charging with high currents. Batteries must be taken out of service for charging, which takes from 8 to 10 hours. Li-ion batteries are more expensive, but they offer a higher-performance solution suitable for heavy-duty applications. They have the advantage of flexible charging like ultra-fast and opportunity charging. Li-ion technology also has a high-power density and zero maintenance requirements. Their extended cycle life means that they can outlast the standard life of a forklift truck. Li-ion batteries do not require ventilation, but they do need electronic battery management systems for safety, control and optimisation. A disadvantage is that the lack of Li-ion recycling options makes disposal of these batteries expensive.
38 JULY/AUGUST 2020 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS
TPPL BATTERY TECHNOLOGY TPPL batteries have up to 10 per cent more energy content than flooded lead-acid batteries and up to 20 per cent more than Gel VRLA types. This is achieved by the higher number of plates and reduced plate thickness. However, it is the flexible and rapid charging ability that separates this battery class from other lead-acid alternatives. TPPL technology allows Partial State of Charge (PSoC) cycling without compromising on battery life. A cycle life of 1500 at 60 per cent depth of discharge (DoD) is possible and even more at shallow DoD. With opportunity charging, trucks can complete an entire shift or even longer without losing time for recharging. Fast charging is also possible with charge rate from 0.25C5 to 0.4C5. The combination of charging speed and increased battery capacity allows truck fleets to operate with fewer batteries, thus supporting a lowe TCO.
The NexSys Core battery using TPPL technology is also available in an ATEX (ATmosphères EXplosives) version that allows materials handling vehicles to work safely in hazardous areas where there is an explosion risk.
Traditional lead-acid and Li-ion batteries have some limitations, which TPPL batteries can resolve. Solutions like NexSys Core and NexSys Pure batteries designed by EnerSys offer the advantages of zero maintenance, maximum charging flexibility and long service life. TPPL technology provides a lower TCO than the alternatives, therefore, offering materials handling vehicle operators an opportunity to increase profit margins.
Enersys
www.discovernexsys.com
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