When you look around the industry and take a deep look at the forklift power landscape, the big debate you will find is lead or lithium battery technologies. Electric powered trucks make up more than 60% of the overall truck market, so it’s an important topic. But what if the best technology solution just depended on the application. So, the question you may be asking is, what are the keys to finding the best power for your need?
THE KEYS
The most important things to ask when looking for a battery power solution is, “What are my power needs, maintenance desires, and infrastructure capabilities?” This goes for either new or existing fleets. With those unique needs in mind, and with some deeper information learned from this blog series, you will be able to determine your best power solution.
Individual Power Needs:
As in anything it is important to create the best possible partnership for your situation, and that also is true when matching the right technology and charging practice to your unique situation. Working with a battery manufacturing partner is always the best way to conduct a power study to determine your needs. When choosing battery technology between lead and lithium batteries sometimes the best solution is a mixture of both! Working with a partner who is knowledgeable with both technologies is important, as they can offer the best solution for you with no bias. Performance is crucial in the success of your operation. A keyway to figure out your power requirement is by determining the daily Equivalent Battery Unit (EBU) needed. An EBU is defined as a battery’s maximum allowable daily discharge based on its overall capacity.
There are applications that require 1 EBU, and there are applications that require more. The following is a recommended guideline to optimize usage without the need for multiple batteries and change outs:
- 1 EBU daily – Best suited for CONVENTIONAL CHARGED LEAD BATTERY
- 1 – 1.25 EBU daily – Best suited for OPPORTUNITY CHARGED LEAD BATTERY
- 1.25 – 1.6 EBU daily – Best suited for FAST CHARGED LEAD BATTERY
- ≥ 1.6 EBU daily – Best fit for LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
THE POWER YOU NEED
Finding the best power solution is all about knowing the individual application and making the best decision. Both technologies offer benefits and challenges. Everyone likes to have options but knowing the right information is important in making the right decision. It is also critical to find a manufacturing partner that can offer you an unbiased look at the available motive power choices. Choose a manufacturer that offers both lead and lithium technologies, has the capability to provide service and support anywhere, and can match all of it to your specific fleet’s needs. Knowing these keys will unlock success of your operation for years to come.
Contact Us For More Information:
E-mail: motivepowersales@dekabatteries.com
Phone: 610.682.3260