With More and More companies now look at sustainability as one of the most important factors when look at new counter balance forklift. We decided to look at what is on offer @ 8,000kg 100% zero emission.

There are a number of both major and smaller forklift manufactures in this product market from Toyota, Linde, Hyster, Kalmar, Junghheinich who will also supply MCF, Carer, Montini just to name a few.

We have decided to look at a German Brewery distribution centre as a case study. For this the centre will work on a two shift system 06.00 - 14.00 & 14.00 - 22.00 The forklift operator gets his 8 ton electric lithium iron multi pallet handling forklift and starts work at around 06.15. The truck battery is fully charged at 120KWH he works till his first break at 08.15. The leaves his station at 08.05 placed his truck on charge and returns at 08.45 giving 15 minutes of charging with a 30KWH charger. This is 7.5 KHW hour of charge. The truck has used 40 kwh of electric this leaves 87.5 kwh of charge. He then works till 10.15 when he stops for dinner and returns back at 11.15 giving 30 minutes of charging this is 15KWH of charge. The truck has used 24 KWH of charge this leaves 75.5KWH he then works till his afternoon break at 12.15 he leaves his station at 12.05 and return at 12.40 till he finishes his shift at 13.40 he then puts the truck back on charge. The truck finishes with 67.5 KWH of charge at the end of the shift. Then the second operator starts his shift for the same to happen again. The truck finishes the day with 15 KWH allowing 4 hour to fully charge the battery again. The lithium iron truck has been able to do a double shift but has lost a least 60 minutes of productivity.


Now the same with a lead acid battery truck the operator does the same shift but instead of leaving 10 minutes early he goes at his beak time the battery last 6 hours before it needs changing so at his last break, he stops at 11.45 to change his battery. With this system two batteries are needed as the overnight time and early morning start time are time enough for the battery to cool.

So with either Lithium iron or lead acid batteries you can do a double shift system the lithium iron truck battery would probably last only two - three years with this charging rate, and the lead acid battery will need charging area and maintenance.