Eight Convincing Reasons to Shift from Lead-Acid Batteries to Lithium-Ion Powered Equipment
Updated: Jan 27
While buying material-handling equipment for your business is a major investment, purchasing a sub-standard one will cost you even more.
Perhaps this is one of your backburning problems today. Maybe you've been pulling your hair trying to figure out why you are incurring costs left and right, with no ROI in terms of your operation's efficiency. But could the problem be that you are using lead-acid battery equipment?
If you are in an industry that deals with material-handling equipment or MHE such as forklifts and pallet trucks, the key to success borders on efficiency and productivity.
Slightly Higher Cost, but Bigger Savings
To grow your profitability, you need to find ways to get more work done in less time. One way of improving productivity is by using material-handling equipment powered by lithium-ion batteries.
There is, however, no going around the premium price of owning such a piece of material-handling equipment. But while lithium-ion battery equipment will cost you more than a lead-acid battery (if you're comparing it to the same brand), the overall long-term savings will surely be worth your investment.
This is why we've compiled eight compelling reasons why you should consider switching to lithium-ion battery-powered equipment.
1. Lower energy bills
A lithium-ion battery saves on the equipment's energy consumption and increases your efficiency by 30%. It also charges eight times faster than a lead-acid battery.
2. Longer lifespan
A lithium-ion battery generally lasts at least two to four times longer than a lead-acid battery. Many manufacturers take pride in their lithium-ion battery models that last at least four to five years on average. They even guarantee it!
3. Reduced downtime
You can forget about downtime when using lithium-ion batteries. Unlike lead-acid batteries that need to be swapped when charging, lithium-ion batteries are opportunity-charged, meaning they can charge during operator breaks. As a result, you'll end up with a longer runtime and increased productivity.
4. Lower labor costs
There are no repair or maintenance costs when using lithium-ion battery equipment. Unlike a lead-acid battery, you don't even need to water it, which lowers your upkeep in the long run.
You also save on time that goes to whenever your staff needs to carefully transport and reinstall the battery back to your equipment, not to mention the time spent when training and retraining staff about handling your equipment.
5. Reduced hazards
Lead-acid batteries rely on a chemical reaction between sulphuric acid and lead plates to generate electricity. For this to happen, the battery needs a constant refill of water, or it risks battery failure from the wrong chemical composition.
With this scenario, your operators will most likely do the tedious maintenance work of frequently checking water levels to avoid overfilling the material-handling equipment with water. Unfortunately, this practice constantly exposes your staff to the hazards of lead-acid battery spills that cause injuries.
On the other hand, lithium-ion battery equipment is safe to use indoors since they don't produce carbon emissions, acid leaks, or spills. You also won't need to replace or throw away lithium-ion batteries regularly.
6. Shorter wait time
Lithium-ion batteries are opportunity-charged, meaning you can charge them while it's still hooked to the equipment. It also takes almost seven to eight hours before a lithium-ion battery gets fully drained, reducing operational downtime. Even better news: their charge only takes minutes and does not require a special setting when charging.
7. Zero overheating = safer operations
Overcharging a lead-acid battery makes the electrolyte overheat, which forms both oxygen and hydrogen gas. When this happens, the battery pressure rises and can lead to battery deterioration.
The worst-case scenario of overheating this battery type is an explosion that will damage your facility and may cause fatal injuries to everyone present.
Lithium-ion batteries, on the other hand, have a battery management system to ensure that cell temperatures are within optimum levels, thus securing your operator's safety. Because of this, you'll never have to worry about overcharging your equipment.
8. Maintenance free
Lithium-ion batteries are maintenance-free, with no need to schedule regular cleaning, repairs, watering, or equalizing fees and time.
The Bottomline on your Equipment Battery:
Companies looking to improve their workflow and efficiency should opt for lithium-ion battery material-handling equipment as the risk-to-reward ratio tips in favor of the rewards. In addition to this, maintaining high safety standards in your workplace boosts morale and eventually improves productivity.
When making your decision, consider your business's daily operations and what battery solutions will alleviate the situation. Lithium-ion batteries are suitable for all environments, including both outdoors and indoors.
Scantruck offers a range of warehousing equipment that carries lithium-ion batteries, such as the EPL153, EPL 154, and EPL 185 pallet trucks. The EPL model has an internal charger that can run continuously for four hours on one charge, making it the perfect tool for replacing a manual hand pallet truck. These models also come in compact sizes, making them ideal trucks for any standard application in warehouses, logistics, and any industrial usage!
