The Benefits of Knowing Your Forklift Power Usage

Given recent technology advances in data collection and analytics, there is no need to make forklift power decisions based on educated guesses.

A power study using modeling that considers various functions within the application, power usage at the individual forklift level and different charging scenarios can help determine the right power source for each forklift in the fleet. It can also provide clues to determine the right charging process, including the number and locations of charging stations and the best time (or times) of day to conduct charging operations.

Here are six benefits of a power study.

1. Access to battery utilization information, like amp-hour consumption per hour for each battery, helps you right-size your forklift fleet and select an appropriate number of batteries.
2.  A power study can help determine if lithium-ion batteries are a good fit for your application.
3.  Collected data can help identify the effectiveness of your charging method(s) or charging frequency and reveal opportunities for improvement.
4.  Power usage and battery performance data can provide a manageable stepping stone for utilizing data analytics to make data-supported decisions.
5.  The interpretation and analysis of energy consumption data can identify methods for reducing energy costs and support sustainability efforts.
6.  A power study enables a data-informed process for operational enhancements and growth.

By working with Crown to employ battery monitoring technology and the InfoLink® operator and fleet management system, real-time data can be gathered from a broad sampling of frequently used forklifts. This data can then reveal how your fleet regularly consumes and replenishes power and identify opportunities for improvement and efficiency enhancement.

A single-source manufacturer of forklifts, batteries and chargers can offer integration advantages that can help streamline the path to success for your business. The integration of each product and its components at its deepest level can lead to increased operational efficiency. A deep knowledge of and experience with each of the solution’s components provide a basis for identifying comprehensive, configured solutions that address challenges without the complexities associated with integrating diverse point solutions.

To learn more about developing an integrated energy strategy for your forklift fleet, read Crown’s new e-book “A Winning Power Play: Developing an Integrated Forklift Energy Solution.”

The e-book is designed to help fleet managers evaluate current practices and identify solutions tailored to fleet, site and application requirements. It examines the considerations that factor into power decisions, describes a method for gaining visibility into power usage, and explains the characteristics of different battery technologies and charging strategies. 

Finally, the e-book outlines how to bring all of that together into a more cohesive, end-to-end strategy that can be further enhanced by working with suppliers who can provide an integrated forklift energy solution.