Jungheinrich trialling sodium-ion batteries with selected customers

SODIUM-ION TECHNOLOGY is regarded as a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Greater availability of raw materials, lower costs and a better environmental footprint are among its characteristics. Sodium is widely available as a raw material worldwide and is not subject to geopolitical constraints.

As part of the current project, vehicles are being fitted with lithium-ion batteries and tested in real-world customer use. The aim is to validate the performance and reliability of the new technology under a wide range of operating conditions, thereby gaining valuable insights for series production. The first prototypes have already been successfully built and tested in forklift trucks.

Furthermore, sodium offers more resource-efficient production and good recyclability.

Jungheinrich is working closely with international cell manufacturers and research partners to further develop the technology and tailor it to the specific requirements of material handling. Laboratory and field tests carried out to date have provided important insights into the service life, performance and safety of the batteries.

By testing the sodium-ion battery, Jungheinrich is reaffirming its commitment to embracing innovation at an early stage and playing an active role in shaping it. The aim is to pass on the benefits of new technologies to customers as quickly as possible, thereby contributing to sustainable and future-proof logistics.

Jungheinrich head of technology development Martin von Werder, says: “We are working intensively on new battery technologies so that we can continue to offer our customers high-performance, sustainable and cost-effective solutions in the future.”