Often times, what appears to be the cheapest option can end up being the most expensive option in the long run.
Before you spend a few thousand dollars on a battery, take a few moments to learn how to choose the right battery for your forklift and important questions to ask. When uninformed buyers choose a cheap battery with no warranty, they inevitably end up buying a second battery - the right battery - a short while later.
First, collect some stats about your forklift to ensure you get a battery that fits in your battery compartment and provides the correct amount of power. A forklift dealer can also help you find a battery with the right specifications.
1. What voltage can your lift truck use?
Forklifts can use either 36-volt or 48-volt batteries, be sure to confirm what your lift truck can handle. The wrong choice can cause severe damage to your equipment.
2. Measure the battery compartment dimensions
Write down the size of the battery compartment in inches (width, depth and height). Important: measure the size of the compartment, not the size of the old battery.
3. What is the amp hour capacity of the battery?
Check the ampere-hour (AH) capacity rating on your current battery. To get the maximum power and run time, choose the highest-rated amp hour battery approved for your lift truck that can fit in the battery compartment.
4. Confirm the minimum counterweight requirement
Check the forklift's data plate or owner’s manual to confirm the minimum battery weight. Installing an underweight battery can cause stability issues and is extremely dangerous.
5. Check the connector type, cable position and cable lengths
You'll need to know:
● Where the battery plugs into the forklift
● How long the battery cable needs to be (when in doubt, choose longer cables)
● The color and position of the connectors
Choosing industrial batteries can be complicated — there are just so many options that it can be difficult to decide which factors are most important: Ah capacity, chemistry, charging speed, cycle life, brand, price, etc. If you already know what to expect of your battery, go ahead and select lithium forklift batteries using the tool above to see available options. Visit our blog: How to Choose the Right Forklift Battery
Initially, for a single battery, the lithium-ion is the more expensive option of the two. Prices vary, but when you simply compare the starting price of a single battery, a lithium-ion battery can cost about twice as much as a lead-acid battery.
If you have a warehouse, multi-shift or manufacturing, or if your business operates on low profit margins, this article is a must-read.
If you’ve never considered lithium-ion batteries due to cost, we’re going to share two statistics that might make you change your mind.
In the United States, an equipment manufacturer saves more than $ 1 million a year by switching to lithium-ion batteries. After looking at the numbers, the company found that it was spending $ 4,800 per day:
Pay employees to change batteries, twice per shift.
15 minutes of inactivity with each exchange (90 minutes per day)
Spending money on electricity (lithium-ion batteries are 40 percent more energy efficient)
Increase Productivity – Lead-acid batteries cause your forklift to lose power when discharged, but lithium forklift batteries don’t have this problem. In addition, the lithium-ion batteries do not require maintenance, watering or replacement.
Try this simple experiment: Ask your operators to keep track of how much time they spend changing, charging, and maintaining forklift batteries each week.
You can find out how the company is spending a good chunk of the profits on those “cheaper” forklift batteries.
Forklift batteries cost between $2,000 and $6,000 depending on specs and size.
How much does a forklift battery charger cost?
Forklift battery chargers range in cost from $ 500 for a portable charger that plugs into a standard 120-volt AC outlet, to $ 3,000 for a charger that must be plugged into the building’s electrical system by a licensed electrician. The price varies depending on the charger specifications.
Lead-acid batteries are the lowest-cost alternative when it comes to purchase price, although there are significant drawbacks such as maintenance requirements, safety, inefficiency, and the need for a charging room.
Lithium-ion batteries are priced higher (perhaps two to four times higher than lead-acid). However, these batteries are more energy efficient, store more energy in a smaller unit, fast charge, are safer and last longer.
You may need to install charging stations. And if you want to replace lead-acid to Li-ion batteries, you will need a specialist to adapt the equipment. Take into account the difficulty of recycling.
If you have questions about forklift batteries or electric forklifts, please don’t hesitate to call the location nearest you, or contact us online. At BSLBATT we handle batteries, module and service for all forklift makes and models - not just battery.
Telephone: +86-7522819469
E-mail: inquiry@bsl-battery.com
1/6/7F-1 Building1 Zhongkai Innovative Base - Huifeng 6th Road ZhongKai Hi-tech Zone, HuiZhou City, Guangdong, China.
BSLBATT LiFePo4 Forklift Battery Line - Preferred Forklift Battery Supplier
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