Lithium-ion batteries power Whitworths’ forklift fleet

The corporate has been provided with 27 new three- and four-wheeled counterbalance forklifts from Toyota, together with a lot of powered pallet vehicles, attain vehicles and stackers – all powered by lithium-ion battery know-how.

Whitworths mentioned the swap had delivered important productiveness positive aspects, thanks partly to the elimination of the time-consuming technique of refilling gasoline bottles current within the older tools.

Decreasing downtime ​

As outbound entrance line supervisor Jim Rattan defined: “Our outdated LPG ​[liquefied petroleum gas] counterbalance vehicles needed to have their gasoline bottle topped-up no less than as soon as each shift which meant quarter-hour of truck downtime each time a refill was required.”​

Availability of vehicles has additionally elevated consequently – lithium-ion batteries permit for ‘alternative charging’, which suggests the vehicles will be recharged anyplace on web site throughout breaks in a shift or different durations of operator downtime.

Demand for lithium-ion battery tech has been on the rise for a while, based on Toyota key account supervisor Jeff Morley – a development pushed by heightened environmental issues, rising gas costs and larger consciousness of employees welfare.

Lithium-ion future ​

“In truth, almost 1 / 4 of all Toyota electric-powered forklift vehicles ordered for supply within the UK now characteristic Lithium-Ion battery know-how,” ​he added.

“After listening to​ [Whitworths’] wants, had been assured that switching to lithium-ion battery energy would carry actual operational advantages to the corporate. This has proved to be the case.”​