Whether lead-acid or Li-ion batteries are the better choice for your electric lift trucks depends on your application and priorities.
Lead-acid power is familiar, tried and trusted, and many workplaces are already equipped to use it.
Charging and maintenance
It does require careful planning of battery charging, maintenance and exchanges – but that’s no problem to a well-organised materials handling operation.
Importantly, there’s more than one kind of lead-acid battery. In addition to traditional flooded lead-acid batteries, you can choose from various types of sealed lead-acid battery. Manufacturers have never stopped making advances in lead-acid battery technology. This means they will surely continue to play an important part in our industry for many years to come. Using the latest intelligent chargers will help you to get the best service life and performance out of them.
With sealed lead-acid batteries, virtually no maintenance is needed. There are also no gas build-up or acid leak risks. In those ways, sealed lead-acid is like Li-ion.
Flooded lead-acid batteries require water top-ups, as well as ventilated spaces for storage and charging.
However, the necessary processes, like the battery structure itself, are simple and well understood.
Lead-acid advantages over Li-ion
In many cases, users are happy to stick with lead-acid because it’s always worked well for them. They simply have no reason to change – and they may be influenced by some of the following issues.
Familiarity
Businesses have long experience of using and managing lead-acid battery power.
Lower battery purchase price
Lower set-up cost
With no need to upgrade the site’s electrical infrastructure.
High recyclability
Around 99% of the battery material can be recovered and recycled.
No thermal runaway danger
Even if the battery is seriously misused or damaged.
Your Cat lift trucks dealer can discuss the different battery types, capacities and charger options with you. Whether you go for Li-ion or lead-acid, we’ll make sure you have the ideal combination for your operation.
Battery-powered lift trucks – both Li-ion and lead-acid – have advantages over IC engine forklifts. For a summary of these, click on the following link: electric forklift advantages.
