Safer battery management
Batteries for lift trucks and other motive power applications are usually chosen on the basis of their performance and whole life costs but for many operators an increasingly important factor is the safe handling of their power sources.
Many vehicles now have a battery compartment with side access and rollers in the floor while charging facilities are configured with battery beds at the same height. The truck drives alongside and, using a battery changing cart, the depleted battery is rolled out and a fully charged unit rolled in. For larger vehicles, due to battery weight and dimensions, the cart can incorporate mechanical assistance such as magnet arm extraction.
For large numbers of battery changes, an option is to use operator ride on battery changers. Sometimes known as ‘Battery Bulls’ they have driven rollers and an electro-magnetic extraction arm.
Another safety consideration is the albeit small risk of arcing during disconnection or connection when swapping batteries. Chargers such as the Hawker LifeIQ range from EnerSys incorporate circuitry and programmable features that minimise this risk.
Battery topping often requires the lifting of water bottles. Automated filling equipment can eliminate this need. As an alternative, the latest-generation batteries with gel electrolytes require little or no topping. The main benefit, says EnerSys, is improved and consistent battery and truck performance but the reduction in handling risks may be a consideration for some operators.
