Lift Trucks
Lithium batteries and high-efficiency chargers for lift trucks save time, money and the environment. When compared to traditional lead-acid technology, lithium batteries charge faster, last longer and deliver more usable energy with each discharge. With batteries charging faster and lasting longer, there’s less downtime. Li-ion batteries don’t need to be swapped, watered, or equalized, which streamlines operations and increases efficiency.
There are many different types of material handling lift trucks, from large sit down counter balance trucks to walkie pallet jacks. These industrial trucks are divided into classes, of which four are relevant to conversion to Li-ion based power systems:
Class I Forklifts are electric motor riders. These electric-powered forklifts are ideal for loading and unloading tractor-trailers, handling pallets, and a number of other applications in industries ranging from cold food and beverage storage, retail, manufacturing and warehouses.
By definition, Class I forklifts are powered by a battery, which has historically been Flooded Lead Acid. As compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) forklifts Class I forklifts are much quieter and create no emissions, making them a popular choice for indoor applications. Forklifts in this class, ranging in lift capacity from 3,000 to 40,000 pounds.
Electrical systems for Class I forklifts range between 24V and 80V, but they tend to require larger capacity and higher voltages than the other classes. Most will require a 48V or 80V Lithium SAFEFlex battery and a 30kW Lithium SAFEFlex charger to fast charge one or more forklifts simultaneously. Batteries on Class I forklifts also function as part of the counterweight to help maintain lifting capacity, so Green Cubes offers batteries with extra weight ballast in order to be a drop-in replacement for lead acid batteries.
Class II lift trucks are electric, narrow aisle models. They are designed with maneuverability that allows them to operate in tight spaces and narrow aisles, picking and putting away inventory, and these trucks provide enterprises the ability to increase vertical racking space without expanding their current warehouse footprint. Some examples or Class II industrial trucks are reach trucks and order pickers.
Reach trucks and order pickers usually require Lithium SAFEFlex batteries in the middle sizes and voltages offered by Green Cubes. They range from 24V to 48V. Customers can choose a 15kW or 30kW Lithium SAFEFlex charger, depending on their requirements.
Class III equipment includes electric pallet jacks, stackers, and tow tractors, which come in both rider and walk behind (“walkie”) models. They are generally used for unloading deliveries and moving loads to a staging area where they can be handled by other types of forklifts.
Pallet jacks and stackers require smaller batteries than Class I and II equipment and usually operate at 24V. For these applications we recommend our 15kW charger, which can charge three pallet jacks at a time.
Class IV Forklifts are ICE cushion tire trucks. This class of sit-down forklifts is designed for indoor use but run on diesel fuel, LP gas, gasoline, or compressed natural gas. Lithium SAFEFlex batteries are an appropriate replacement for ICE powered forklifts because they are emissions free and often provide an economic benefit over diesel or propane.
Lithium SAFEFlex is the most advanced motive power lithium batteries for all electric material handling (MHE) classes 1-3, including small pallet jacks, end riders, center riders, narrow aisle forklifts, 3-4 wheel forklifts, large turret trucks and other material handling vehicles.
Lithium SAFEFlex is the integration of Lithium Iron Phosphate cells, electronics, packaging and a software platform that was designed specifically for the rugged requirements of material handling. The advanced mechanical packaging meets the impact forces of a large forklift and the rugged automotive-grade Battery Management System (BMS) makes Lithium SAFEFlex the most reliable lithium battery for the material handling industry.
Benefits of Lithium SAFEFlex batteries:
Benefits of Lithium SAFEFlex Chargers
Green Cubes is a great company, great engineers, great product. That’s been kind of my number one go to [lithium] battery.
The thing I like about Green Cubes is that they have other lines of business outside of material handling batteries, they have been in the lithium world for a long time. I can trust they will likely stay in business
Green Cubes [differentiates] on its capability to custom design for things like the hardware, the firmware, and inverters. They also have economies of scale because they make battery systems for things like forklifts.
I am doing some work with them right now. We’re learning their products, and looking at demos. They have good people. They seem like they know the technology well – they say they’re a technology company. I like that they’ve been in the lithium business a long time. I can trust they will likely stay in business.
Green Cubes Technology would be my go-to for lithium applications.
I’ve told my friends at Green Cubes, I don’t plan on going anywhere. I believe in loyalty.
