As the cold chain industry grows, facility operators are challenged to meet customer demands and manage high refrigeration energy costs. As a result, BSLBATT lithium forklift batteries are quickly becoming the best choice for cold storage. These batteries can solve this problem. This article will help you reduce the time your forklifts sit idle in cold storage areas, keeping your business running smoothly.
Lead-acid batteries lose 30% of their rated capacity when used in temperatures below 32°F. When the battery has only 70% of its usable capacity, its discharge/charge cycle is significantly reduced.
When using lead-acid batteries, forklifts must leave the cold storage environment when changing batteries. Sudden temperature changes can cause condensation to form, which can cause performance issues and downtime.
Unless preheated before charging, cold lead-acid batteries may also experience artificial voltage spikes when charging, causing the charge cycle to stop prematurely. If this happens frequently, the battery may become undercharged over time, negatively affecting its capacity and service life.
For many years, these issues with lead-acid batteries in cold storage were considered a cost of doing business. Today, lithium-ion batteries have begun to be used in material handling applications, and many cold storage environments have begun to adopt lithium-ion batteries as an energy solution because lithium-ion batteries have fewer performance issues and limitations.
BSL Industrial Lithium Batteries are a modern power supply solution for forklifts and other industrial vehicles. These batteries are manufactured using lithium-ion technology to provide a reliable way to power machines. BSL Industrial Lithium Batteries are known for being lightweight, durable, and performing well in a variety of conditions.
Reduced maintenance and risks: Lithium-ion batteries do not require watering or exposing employees to harmful gases or chemicals during battery servicing and charging.
Faster and more convenient charging: Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries can be charged at any time without negatively affecting the battery and do not need to be removed from the forklift during short charging periods. In addition, there is no need to cool down after charging.
Reclaim storage space: Lead-acid batteries require a dedicated charging room, which takes up valuable warehouse space, and in multi-shift applications, each forklift may need to be equipped with multiple batteries. Lithium-ion batteries can be charged directly on the forklift, with the charger placed in a convenient location near the break room.
Longer service life and operation time: BSLBATT® lithium-ion batteries have a significantly longer service life - up to 4,500 cycles, equivalent to about six years of service life. In daily operations, they have three times higher throughput than lead-acid batteries, and lower maintenance costs, making them more suitable for cold storage.
Fire extinguisher function: A fire extinguisher is installed in the battery pack housing, making the battery safer. If the battery pack cannot burn, the fire can be extinguished quickly.
One-touch charging capability: Once the battery is depleted, press the charge button to activate the backup power source and return the forklift to the charging position at a slow speed
External balancing function: The battery pack can be equipped with an optional external single-cell balancing function to extend the service life and improve productivity (balance once a year, the life span increases by 10-20%)
Lithium batteries for forklifts powered by cutting-edge lithium-ion technology can help solve these problems. One of the advantages of lithium batteries is that they can maintain good working conditions even when stored in cold places. Unlike traditional lead-acid batteries, industrial lithium-ion batteries do not experience capacity decay at low temperatures. This means that forklifts powered by lithium batteries can continue operating at full capacity in cold environments, minimizing the possibility of downtime due to battery failure.
Many industries that rely on cold storage have seen the advantages of using lithium forklift batteries. For example, companies in the food and beverage industry use forklifts to transport goods between cold storage areas. By switching to lithium batteries, these businesses can reduce downtime and improve overall operational efficiency.
Pharmaceutical companies that store fragile medical products in cold storage also favor lithium batteries. Precise temperature control and minimal downtime are critical for these businesses to keep their products safe. Thanks to lithium batteries, their forklifts run smoothly, ensuring goods are moved efficiently and quickly within the storage area.
In cold storage environments, efficiency and reliability are key to maintaining smooth operations, and lithium batteries play a vital role in reducing downtime. For 3PLs, cold storage facilities present forklift challenges that lithium conversions can eliminate. Lithium-ion batteries can help supply chain players increase the capacity of their forklift fleets and easily achieve better operational performance. Best practice is to choose a reputable supplier with a proven track record, more than five years of operation, and who actively listens to feedback from existing customers.
Lithium-ion battery solutions are helping cold storage distribution centers around the world solve forklift energy needs with more environmentally friendly material handling resilience. Until we can overcome the limitations of cold storage operations, don’t forget your gloves!
While lithium-ion batteries require a larger upfront investment, the benefits may be worth it. Contact our energy experts to discuss opportunities for lithium in cold storage applications.
