Long used in personal electronics, lithium-ion batteries are now revolutionizing the industrial and material handling equipment industries.
Their fast-charging capabilities, long lifespan and ease of maintenance make them an attractive choice for companies that use forklifts, pallet jacks and other equipment in their operations.
Lithium-ion battery packs require more investment up front than other rechargeable options, such as lead-acid batteries. However, used correctly, lithium-ion batteries offer many long-term benefits that make them less expensive over time.
That’s why getting the most out of lithium-ion battery life is so important.
Here are five steps you can take to maximize your lithium-ion battery life.
Using a lithium-ion battery with a smart battery management system provides many benefits to the fleet. Tracked through onboard computers, fleet managers can connect to the cloud and send integral data to fleet personnel. This data includes health and usage of the battery.
Lithium-ion batteries that feature resourceful battery system management tools also ensure lithium battery life lasts longer by:
Overcharging a battery can instigate formation of dendrites which can hinder battery longevity. When it comes to charging lithium-ion batteries, more is not always better.
To avoid overcharging and maximize life, ensure a lithium battery pack includes a battery regulator. This regulator, or balancer, ensures:
Lithium-ion batteries that feature smart battery management systems should include active balancing features through a battery regulator.
Deep discharges stress lithium-ion batteries. Partial charges, on the other hand, are safer and can prolong the life of a lithium battery. In fact, lithium battery packs have no memory effect, making partial charges possible.
This is good news for companies that operate equipment in shifts. Crews are encouraged to charge lithium-ion batteries on an opportunity basis throughout the day. This can occur in between tasks or while on break, for example.
It’s also important to always keep lithium-ion batteries at least partially charged. If batteries are reduced to low charges, circuits put in place for protection may turn off.
Lithium-ion batteries are resilient and do not require as much maintenance, such as cooling-down periods. They also feature onboard heaters that control temperatures during cold weather applications.
Nonetheless, lithium-ion batteries are still vulnerable to damage if stored or charged in improper temperatures.
To extend the life of lithium-ion batteries:
Underwriter Laboratories (UL) products go through rigorous testing to ensure companies establish trustworthy products in the marketplace. Products that have been designated with a UL Listing must meet nationally-recognized safety standards.
This gives the material handling industry confidence in the safety of the product. A UL-certification also ensures protective features are in place that enhance the quality and long-term use. These include:
You can read more about why UL marks are important for lithium-ion batteries in industrial applications and walkie pallet jacks.
Are lithium-ion batteries better? Lithium-ion batteries are transforming the material handling industry. They are an attractive choice for companies that want to increase efficiency and reduce costs in the long term. This is especially true when lithium-ion battery life is maximized.
It is critical to ensure your fleet’s supply of lithium-ion packs have management tools that track metrics and are UL-Listed. Also important are the steps taken to properly charge and store these batteries.
With these steps, lithium-ion batteries can experience a longer life and increase productivity in industrial and material handling equipment industries. That makes the switch to this technology an easy decision.
You can read more about how counterbalance lift trucks hit max performance with lithium-ion batteries.
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