Palletline is also researching hydrogen fuel cellsPalletised freight distribution company Palletline has added 78 new energy efficient Linde forklifts to its fleet.
The company says the new forklifts will generate savings of more than GBP100,000 (USD129, 150) over five years while reducing carbon emissions by 26.8 kg per day.
The new fleet includes 10 fully electric Linde E25Ls, which have the capacity to complete eight-hour shifts without recharging, as well as 60 Linde H18T models and eight Linde H20Ts.
Palletline group managing director Graham Leitch says: “We are currently working with Linde to investigate the use of hydrogen fuel cells in forklifts to further reduce the environmental impact of forklifts whilst at the same time reducing fuel costs.
“Hydrogen is expected to be a significant opportunity for this partnership and we are hoping to be one of the first to introduce a hydrogen fuelled fleet of forklifts.”
The deal includes a GBP3.5 million (USD 4.5 million) investment over five years on a full maintenance lease.
The forklifts will be fitted with hook-on weighing devices from B&B Attachments, which will work with the on-board Linde safety systems to ensure heavy loads over 400 kg cannot be lifted above a certain height.
The Linde Connect Access fleet management system allows all the forklifts to be connected and a full usage analysis to be sent to the warehouse manager to assess the condition of the fleet, including crash and accident data.