{"id":239408,"date":"2021-06-08T15:50:37","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T14:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/locators.co.uk\/?p=239408"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:11:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T14:11:38","slug":"battery-types-for-forklifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/battery-types-for-forklifts\/","title":{"rendered":"Battery Types for Forklifts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Battery Types For Forklifts<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>

Make a positive impact on your productivity. <\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Electric Forklifts typically utilise<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Lead-acid batteries<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Fast-charge lead-acid<\/a><\/div><\/div>
Lithium-ion batteries<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The type of battery your electric forklift uses can deliver wildly different results \u2014 and we\u2019re not just talking about the effects it\u2019ll have on your truck. After all, any forklift operator knows that an inefficient forklift makes for an inefficient warehouse \u2014 and no one wants that. Yet all forklifts rely on some form of power, and we rely on forklifts to power our productivity. So, to keep your staff happy and your business functioning as it should, we've compiled a handy guide below on battery types for forklifts. Consider the following pros and cons when utilising these battery types for commercial and industrial use.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Safe Power<\/h2>

Locators\u2019 lead-acid battery topping service.<\/h4>\n

Instead of training your staff to top batteries and keeping de-ionised water in your warehouse, we offer a service called Safe Power. Safe Power removes hazardous health and safety risks from your warehouse and means you don\u2019t have to store de-ionised water on site. This service typically costs about \u00a3235 per battery per year \u2014 depending on the lead-acid battery\u2019s size. Depending on how hard you use your trucks, the Safe Power team will come to you every 2-4 weeks and top up your lead-acid battery. We will bring de-ionised water, clean and check your battery to ensure everything is working as it should. We will repair your battery under warranty or provide a repair estimate if your battery is damaged.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT BATTERY TYPES FOR FORKLIFTS<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Which battery works best for your forklift?<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

LEAD-ACID BATTERIES<\/h2><\/div>
FIND OUT MORE<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Advantages<\/h2>

-\tIf kept properly maintained, lead-acid batteries are thoroughly reliable
\n-\tTypically, they have a 5-year warranty but can last 10 years or more
\n-\tLead-acid batteries can be used in both light or heavy-duty applications
\n-\tCompared to lithium-ion batteries, they are cheaper to buy or rent<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Disadvantages<\/h2>

-\tRequires frequent maintenance, without which the battery could rapidly deteriorate
\n-\tDuring charging, batteries emit gas and must be left to complete their charge
\n-\tIdeally should be cycled down to 20% charge before being re-charged<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Fast charge Lead Acid<\/h2><\/div>
FIND OUT MORE<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Advantages<\/h2>

-\tAll the same as listed for Lead Acid above
\n-\tThe the ability to charge faster than lead acid and also opportunity charge<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Disadvantages<\/h2>

-\tLike standard lead acid they require topping and maintenance
\n-\tThey require a full 14-hour charge once each week, this is when they equalise and emit gas<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Lithium-ion BATTERIES<\/h2><\/div>
FIND OUT MORE<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Advantages<\/h2>

-\tRequires no maintenance and has a battery warranty of 7 years
\n-\tThe polar opposite of lead-acid, Li-ion is designed to be opportunity charged
\n-\tCharging times are much faster <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Disadvantages<\/h2>

-\tMuch higher cost than lead acid and fast charger batteries
\n-\tYou cannot operate the machine for very extended periods of time without charging
\n-\tIf you heavily over discharge a lithium-ion battery it can be unrecoverable<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Battery Types For Forklifts - LEAD-ACID BATTERIES<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

The old-school \u201cwet cell battery\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>

These are the most commonly used battery types for forklifts and have retained that title for over 160 years! Invented in 1859, they resemble a car battery and are the oldest form of rechargeable battery in existence. They\u2019re cheap, convenient and perfect for various applications such as cars, bikes and \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 forklifts. Lead-acid batteries supply power to everything from electronics to thrust and much more. There is good reason for its sustained popularity too. These types of batteries are not only dependable but inexpensive when viewed on a cost-per-watt basis. Lead-acid batteries are widely used when a surge current is critical, such as starter motors require. The batteries work when oxygen in the active material \u2014 lead dioxide \u2014 reacts with hydrogen ions to form water. The lead then reacts with sulphuric acid to form lead sulphate. The current flow is formed due to these ions moving through the electrolyte.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Maintenance<\/h2>

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries require regular maintenance \u2014 preferably just before your shift. Assuming you work a standard day shift, you should charge your truck overnight and check or top up your battery levels in the morning. You must do this only after the battery\u2019s been fully charged and has time to cool down. If you were to top it up at night \u2014 when the batteries are discharged \u2014 the water levels would be too high. So, if you were to put it on to charge, the acid would have bubbled over top of the cells. It would have gone into the battery tank by the morning, ultimately leading to further complications and corrosion.<\/p>\n

On another note, if you prematurely take the truck off charge, you\u2019d engage in \u201copportunity-charging\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many operators think they can charge the battery when they go for lunch. They'll then return to find the battery discharge indicator has leapt up and resume their work. These operators will do this assuming they\u2019ve got more battery life to get them through the rest of their shift\u2014 but this is not the case. All they\u2019ve done is push heat into the battery, akin to leaving a Duracell battery on a radiator. Hot batteries can stay in this state for 2-3 days. Given that larger forklift batteries can cost \u00a35,000, it could be quite a shock to your bank balance should you have to replace one prematurely.<\/p>\n

So, in short . . .<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udfea | Discharge your lead-acid battery to 80%
\ud83d\udfea | Top the battery up after it\u2019s been fully charged
\ud83d\udfea | And never opportunity-charge a battery<\/p>\n

Is your team opportunity-charging trucks to get it through their shifts? Then you either don\u2019t have enough batteries, or you\u2019ve got the wrong truck. Feel free to contact our team for advice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Battery Types For Forklifts - FAST-CHARGE LEAD-ACID BATTERIES<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

These use the same basic technology as lead-acid but are built differently. They are coupled with high-efficiency chargers to allow them to be opportunity charged. The charger is programmed to complete a full equalising charge once each week when the equipment is not in use.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Maintenance<\/h2>

Fast-charge lead-acid batteries require less topping than standard lead-acid batteries. However, the maintenance rules are essentially the same. You can opportunity charge these batteries throughout the day if needed. Alternatively, you can charge them overnight during quieter periods. They have a slightly higher capacity than the same A\/H lead-acid batteries, so unlike lithium-ion, you can use the trucks for extended periods. Fast charge is a good compromise between standard lead-acid and lithium-ion as it is the more cost-effective option.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Battery Types For Forklifts - LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

Perfect for opportunity charging.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The industry has become accustomed to offering lithium-ion batteries, particularly with smaller machines. These batteries are sealed and maintenance-free making them attractive to specific industries. Lithium-ion provides more power and more energy density than lead-acid batteries. It also has a much longer lifespan and can be opportunity charged. This makes them a flexible, efficient energy storage solution for demanding operations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Maintenance<\/h2>

Lithium-ion batteries and renowned for being a low-maintenance piece of kit. Best of all, there\u2019s no manual handling involved, and users needn\u2019t top them up either, as they\u2019re a sealed battery unit. Yet, unlike a lead-acid battery, if you over-discharge one of these and run it down flat, it\u2019s pretty likely that it\u2019ll be unrecoverable. In such an event, a replacement counterbalance battery could cost roughly \u00a315-20,000. In contrast, a lead-acid battery would cost less than a quarter of that. If managed correctly, it is the perfect solution for high-intensity operations. Especially where the truck isn\u2019t in continuous movement. However, lithium-ion might not be the answer for you if the battery cannot be regularly topped up and charged.<\/p>\n

To find out how we can help your business, email sales@locators.co.uk<\/a> today, or call 01202 854 200<\/a> to arrange a discussion with a member of our expert team.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The type of battery your electric forklift uses can deliver wildly different results \u2013 and we\u2019re not just talking about the effects it\u2019ll have<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[190],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-advice"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239408"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":373182,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239408\/revisions\/373182"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.locators.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}