Yale Lift Trucks launches lithium-ion batteries and chargers

Yale Lift Truck Technologies announced the launch of lithium-ion batteries and chargers designed specifically for its lift trucks, including the new ERC-VG2 series of electric counterbalanced lift trucks.

The company stated that its purpose-built batteries and chargers eliminate the compatibility concerns that can arise with third-party power technologies, offering a high-performance, maintenance-free, zero-emission power option at a competitive price point.

Yale’s battery and charging technology details

Yale said that its battery and charger technologies are validated from the factory for each element to work as a fully integrated ecosystem that provides the reliable power fast-paced warehouses demand. The modular battery pack design enables service of individual modules, rather than requiring replacement of an entire pack.

The company added that end-to-end service and warranty support for all Yale batteries, chargers and lift trucks is taken care of by its dealer network, offering a single point of contact and avoiding the service headaches that can come from piecemeal setups.

“Our goal is to give warehouses as frictionless an experience as possible,” said Ken Schreiber, energy solutions leader, Yale Lift Truck Technologies. “The unified solution of advanced battery technology, chargers and lift trucks delivers on that promise, with easy day-to-day usability and performance, backed by the one-stop shop convenience of support from our local dealers.”

Yale provided the following details about its new battery, charger and electric lift truck lineup:

• Battery: Lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) chemistry offers performance and usability benefits, including improved heat stability, longer lifespan compared to other battery chemistries and fast, flexible charging. Modular size and capacity options allow operations to find the best option for their application and enable individual cells to be replaced, rather than an entire battery.
• Charging infrastructure: Chargers are designed for strategic placement throughout the warehouse, including high-traffic areas, to encourage opportunity charging during breaks or between shifts. Unlike charging lead-acid batteries, warehouses do not need to set aside space for spare battery packs and separate battery storage and charging rooms.
• Lift truck: System-level integration enables the battery to communicate with other systems, preventing truck operation during charging and enabling warnings that can enhance lift truck safety and performance, such as alerts for low charge or high temperatures. Real-time battery and truck data is also presented to managers through the Yale Visionä telemetry platform.