Fast Charge

Not many years ago, it was understood that forklift batteries were to be charged for 8 hours, cooled for 8 hours and discharged for 8 hours. Today, with the emergence of Fast Charge and Opportunity Charging technologies, a new paradigm is emerging.

Fast charge technology (sometimes called quick charge) is based on the simple idea that you can return 80% of the energy into a battery over 6 hours for a standard charger, 2-4 hours for an opportunity charger and 1-2 hours for a fast charger. So if you have lunch breaks and time between shifts to plug in your forklift, you can return close to the same amount of energy back to the battery as you take out through working your electric forklift.

This, however, creates new challenges for the battery.

Transferring energy causes heat. The higher the transfer rate, the higher the heat. And heat can bake a battery.

With the newest charging technology, including high frequency chargers, the control systems are very sophisticated and allow for the management of the heat build up in the battery reducing the possibility of harming the battery.

Alternative charging technology requires a professional (free) study to determine which charging technology is best applied to a warehouse operation. Contact your RAYMOND rep for a full, free analysis today.