Clean, quiet power
August 1st 2006

With a number of forklift power options available to choose from, Ian Brazier, product & applications manager at CMP Batteries, explains why battery power remains the number one choice for users of materials handling equipment.

Traction batteries have been providing a clean, quiet, reliable power source to industry for over 150 years and advancements in technology mean that batteries are offering larger capacities and increased operating times. Any advantages that fossil fuels had in terms of operational benefits are rapidly being eroded and are more than out-weighed by other operational, financial and environmental benefits of batteries.

Battery powered trucks are more reliable than their internal combustion engine counterparts by their very nature. There are no gearboxes to transmit power to the wheels and they have fewer moving parts subject to malfunction and wear. Most vehicle engineers will testify that the more technology that is put into engines, the more things there are to break down! Many will sing the praises of older engine designs in which they could 'pop the hood' and fix whatever had malfunctioned. In electric vehicles, power flows through a simple controller to the electric motor and then to the wheels. Because there are fewer moving parts with less mechanical stress, they are more reliable and will have a longer operational life. They will also be cheaper to maintain in terms of staff time and replacement parts.

Low noise & vibration Of course, in many working environments, electric power is the only viable power source. The lack of polluting and contaminating fumes, combined with considerably lower noise outputs as well as minimum vibration means a safer and more pleasant working environment for both the driver and other staff/visitors in the vicinity.

The food and pharmaceutical industries are just two sectors that, governed by regulation and practical considerations, rely on emission free materials handling equipment.

The macro-environment is also another aspect that benefits from the use of electric vehicles. Although at present the power used to supply electricity in the UK is largely from fossil fuels, the reality is that a modern power plant is burning fuel more efficiently (and transferring it to electrical energy) than an internal combustion engine.

Environmentally aware businesses already have the option of buying their electricity from renewable sources and with increasing global and European pressure, the proportion of environmentally sound power will increase. Current events in the Middle- East and the subsequent rise in oil prices are making battery power even more economically viable.

Another factor for UK businesses is the pressure on space and the resulting rise in property prices. Modern warehouses in particular are designed with narrow aisles, and electric powered materials handling equipment offers a flexible and manoeuvrable option.

Increasing overtime and seasonal peaks mean that vehicles may be required round the clock. This is no longer a problem for modern traction batteries and the charging/power management systems designed to support them. Not only are many batteries and chargers able to offer 'top-up' charges for opportune moments (eg.

lunch and tea breaks), but charger systems like 'CMP.net' ensure that a fully charged battery is always available and users are able to use the computer systems to assess the state of their batteries. This ensures maximum performance from the battery as well as an optimum product life. Chloride Motive Power is also the first company to offer customers a multi-tier charging system that optimises floor space and increases safety within the charger room.

Complete power solution Chloride Motive Power can also offer customers a complete power solution. For example, the 'Liberator' concept offers customers batteries and chargers that are free from maintenance. Batteries that offer high power outputs for rapid-draw applications as well as sustained operations are maintained by CMP engineers so that customers always have batteries that are providing optimum performance.

Developments in battery technology, including gel and orbital wound technology, means that batteries can be truly 'fit & forget'. Even traditional 'flooded' batteries are benefiting from increasing power as well as topping up systems like 'Aquajet' that reduce the water replacement procedure from around 20 minutes per battery to around 20 seconds.

Not only is battery power the best solution for today's users of traction handling equipment, but it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

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