Forklifts, automated guided vehicles, airport ground support equipment, and other mobile material handling equipment (MHE) all have one thing in common – they all have batteries that require a consistent charge to support busy operations. When it comes to selecting an industrial charger for your MHE, it is essential to select a solution that is efficient, space saving, and cross-compatible between different MHE models with varying lithium ion, lead acid, and AGM batteries. To reduce maintenance costs and increase the lifespan of MHE batteries, it is important that your industrial charger comes complete with an effective battery management system (BMS). The following are four key features that your charger’s BMS should include to ensure optimal performance.
1. Battery Management System with Remote Monitoring
Forklift batteries such as lithium ion batteries require constant monitoring to ensure best performance. BMS’s measure the following key vitals (Figure 1) to ensure safety and optimal power:
- Voltage
- Current
- Temperature
- Battery health
- Power levels
By monitoring these vitals, BMS’s can combat overcharging and overheating to ensure efficient charging while increasing the life expectancy of the battery. Battery management systems measure state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH) and make automated adjustments to protect the battery. Fleet managers and technicians can also keep up with the health of MHE batteries via SMS and email notifications through a cloud-based business intelligence platform like AssetPro 360.
2. Battery Power Optimization
By measuring SoC (Figure 2) and SoH, battery management systems can automatically adjust power usage via smart equalization to ensure batteries are not overheating or being overcharged. By having BMS automation in place, the performance of the battery is constantly being monitored. As a result, the ideal level of power is being used to charge MHE. Fine tuning the SoC increases battery life and mitigates safety hazards if the battery were to fail.
3. Battery Management Systems Address Forklift Safety
According to OSHA, “under normal operating conditions, power industrial truck forklift batteries can be expected to remain in service for 2,000 work shifts or charge/discharge cycles.” Regular maintenance must be implemented to extend the lifespan of forklift batteries. Maintenance and battery changes should not be a guessing game. BMS’s can deliver on-screen maintenance instructions and OSHA battery changing procedures to combat risk. Improper battery charging and maintenance can result in battery damage and failures that could cause equipment damage and injuries to forklift operators.
4. Battery Charging Optimization
BMS’s implement adaptive charging which delivers higher battery current at a lower temperature. These circumstances are ideal for the best charging conditions. To increase charging efficiency, facilities also install dual chargers to charge two forklifts at once from a single charger. The benefits of utilizing a dual charger includes:
- Increased uptime and productivity
- Lowered acquisition costs
- Minimized space requirements
- Reduced carbon footprint
The Ultimate Battery Management System for MHE
Minit Charger, the inventor of fast charging technology, offers dual industrial chargers that are chemistry agnostic to provide optimal charging for any MHE model or battery. Implementing smart equalization to extend battery life and adaptive charging to deliver higher current at a lower temperature, Minit Charger’s power solutions implement a smart battery management system to address all the crucial factors surrounding MHE battery charging.
Seeking a comprehensive charging solution for your entire fleet? Contact Minit Charger to get started.
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