Lowest operating costs claim from BYD

Traditional battery-electric forklift trucks have one big problem – the inconvenience and cost involved in having to constantly charge, change and replace batteries, says BYD. 

The company says its has a solution in the form of its concept – ‘battery for life’ with the BYD Iron-Phosphate Battery. This powers a new range of forklift trucks including three- and four-wheel counterbalance trucks and a heavy-duty powered pallet truck.

Available from next month in Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands and due to be rolled out in several other EU states later this year, the four-wheel counterbalance trucks – the ECB20, ECB25 and ECB35 – come with 2,000, 2,500 and 3,500kg lift capacities respectively. All are available with either simplex, or duplex and triplex masts with full free lift, for work at heights of up to 6,000mm. 

A new three-wheel counterbalance truck – the ECB16 – is also going on sale from March with a 1,600kg lift capacity and the same mast options, aimed at applications where manoeuvrability is a priority. The PTP20H, meanwhile, is a 2,000kg capacity powered pallet truck with a flip-down operator platform that allows for both pedestrian and ride-on operation. 

The BYD battery is said to require a fraction of the time taken by traditional lead-acid batteries to charge fully, uses much less energy during the charging and discharging process, can be set to charge within seconds via a socket on the side of the truck without any need for risky battery removal. BYD guarantees that after 10,000 hours or 8 years, it will retain a minimum of 65% of its capacity.

The new counterbalance trucks incorporate a range of features to enhance safety, maximise driver comfort and raise operator productivity. 

All include the latest AC technology, for example, providing precise, controllable power at all times, while programmable performance characteristics including acceleration and top speed ensure the forklifts can be perfectly matched with the limitations of any operating environment or operator skill level. 

All BYD forklifts are equipped while BYD’s active stability control system, which automatically monitors and manages the truck speed during cornering, helping to avoid any risk of a load spill or truck tip-over. 

Another key safety feature is the Braking Assist System, which holds the forklift steady on inclines immediately after the brake is released to prevent any unintended forward or backward movement. An overload protection system, meanwhile, prevents the lift motor from working if the load being picked up exceeds 110% of rated load capacity.

Programmable regenerative braking, also supplied as standard, helps to extend battery life between charges while easy access to the key truck components combined with low-maintenance features such as oil-immersed brakes minimises the downtime and costs involved in routine truck servicing. 

With a build quality and finish at least as high as anything else on the market and an ergonomically designed operator space that ensures drivers stay comfortable, fresh and focused at all times on the task at hand, the BYD counterbalance truck range offers a pleasant, productivity-enhancing environment that will delight even the most demanding fleet managers and drivers. 

All the ECB forklifts are available in two versions: Basic and Comfort. The Basic version forklifts come standard with a Grammer seat, traditional levers for control of hydraulic functions and a single, centrally-mounted mast cylinder. Comfort models, which are aimed at those carrying out intensive work and long shifts, feature twin hydraulic cylinders to provide a clearer central view through the mast, as well as a full suspension Grammer seat to maximise operator comfort and fingertip, mini-lever hydraulic controls that minimise the hand and arm movement required for lifting and lowering operations. 

The PTP20H powered pallet truck also appeared at LogiMAT 2015. This 2,000kg capacity unit has a flip-down, shock-absorbing, anti-slip platform that allows for both pedestrian and ride-on operation, folding sidebars that help protect the driver in ride-on operation and integrated support panels that make it easy for them to find a comfortable position on the platform. 

With a turning radius of 1,650mm and a top travel speed of 12km/h, the PTP20H is ideal for a range of heavy-duty applications such as vehicle loading or unloading via a loading dock, and general pallet movements around the warehouse, including in and out of ground level storage positions.