Comparison of technical differences and applicable scenarios between lithium-ion forklift and lead-acid forklift

In the current domestic industrial handling field, the popularity of electric forklifts continues to increase, with the two most widely used power sources being lithium-ion power and lead-acid power. Many users are prone to confusion about the characteristics of the two types of products during the equipment selection stage, making it difficult to directly match their actual operating needs.

First of all, from the perspective of the core technology, there are obvious differences in the energy storage logic of the two types of products. Lead-acid forklifts rely on the chemical reaction of sulfuric acid electrolyte and lead plate to complete energy storage and discharge. The regular complete charging cycle requires 8 to 12 hours, and regular replenishment of distilled water is required for maintenance. The daily discharge depth cannot exceed 70% of the rated capacity, otherwise the cycle service life will be significantly damaged. At the same time, a small amount of acid gas will be volatilized during the charging process, and there are clear requirements for the ventilation conditions of the charging area. Lithium forklifts rely on the embedding and deembedding of lithium ions to complete the charging and discharging cycle, with higher energy conversion efficiency. They can be fully charged in 2 to 3 hours in conventional fast charging mode. They can be used as needed, without the need to wait for the power to be fully discharged and then concentrated to replenish energy. The depth of conventional discharge can reach more than 90% of the rated capacity. During daily use, special operation and maintenance operations such as replenishing water and detecting the specific gravity of electrolyte are not required. No additional volatile gases will be generated throughout the operation, which is more environmentally friendly to the use space.

From the perspective of the full-cycle cost of use, the two types of forklifts with the same rated load have lower power consumption per unit battery life, and the long-term operation electricity cost is more controllable. In addition to the labor cost of regular maintenance, the scrap energy storage unit needs to complete the processing process in strict accordance with the relevant specifications of hazardous waste. There is a significant difference between the upfront procurement investment of the two types of products and the long-term operation and maintenance investment. Users can comprehensively calculate the total cost in combination with their own operating cycle.

Combined with the actual scene, the lead-acid forklift is more suitable for the average daily operation time of no more than 4 hours, single-shift manufacturing industry, small bulk warehousing with a fixed long charging window at night, and the early procurement budget is relatively limited. Short-distance transshipment scenarios at suburban processing points can fully meet the basic handling operation needs. Lithium-ion forklifts are more suitable for large-scale logistics transit warehouses, cold chain warehouses, food and pharmaceutical production workshops with high environmental cleanliness requirements such as multi-shift operations. They are also suitable for port loading and unloading and scattered delivery sites where the operation points are scattered and it is difficult to leave a long charging time. The characteristics of charging and use can effectively improve the equipment turnover efficiency and reduce unnecessary work delays.

In the actual selection process, users do not need to follow the trend blindly. By considering their daily average operating hours, environmental protection requirements, operation cycle planning, operation and maintenance personnel configuration, and other dimensions, they can choose the most suitable handling equipment for their own needs and maximize the use value of the equipment.