Comparative Analysis of Cost between Reach Lithium Battery Forklift and Lead-acid

Reach electric forklifts are commonly used equipment for warehousing narrow aisles. The current mainstream power is divided into two categories: lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid models have been used for a long time and have a broad market base; lithium-ion models are one of the alternatives developed in recent years, adapting to the needs of different enterprises.

Core usage cost dimension comparison

Battery-related costs

The first is the procurement cost. Under the premise of the same rated voltage and capacity, the lithium battery power system is usually about two to three times higher than that of lead-acid. Secondly, the maintenance cost. Lead-acid batteries need to be regularly added with distilled water, tested for specific gravity, and cleaned for pole columns. The maintenance frequency is high. Some enterprises need to arrange special personnel or regularly outsource services. Lithium batteries are basically maintenance-free, and only need two to three months to do an appearance, interface and power inspection. Finally, there is depreciation and life cost. The standard deep charge and discharge cycle life of lead-acid is usually about 300 to 500 times. If the daily use intensity is high, the life may be shortened. The standard deep charge and discharge cycle life of lithium batteries is usually about 1,500 to 2,000 times, which can cover a longer service cycle.

Energy consumption and efficiency costs

In terms of energy consumption, under the same working conditions and the same load operating conditions, lithium batteries usually consume about 10 to 20 percent less energy than lead-acid, mainly due to the more stable discharge voltage of lithium batteries and slightly higher power conversion efficiency. In terms of efficiency and backup cost, the conventional charging time of lead-acid is usually eight to twelve hours. If fast charging may affect the battery life, most enterprises need to be equipped with one to two sets of backup batteries; lithium batteries support one to two hours of replenishment to about 80%. A single group of batteries can meet the needs of some two- or three-shift operations, which can save the procurement and storage costs of spare batteries.

Space and supporting costs

The lead-acid battery itself weighs a lot and releases a small amount of gas during charging, requiring a dedicated ventilated charging area. In some scenarios, charging racks or battery replacement equipment need to be installed, which takes up a lot of storage space. Lithium batteries are relatively light in weight and have low ventilation requirements. They can be used to supplement energy in ordinary areas with low power, or a small area of dedicated fast charging area can be used, which can reduce the occupation of storage core work space.

There are no absolute advantages and disadvantages of the two, and enterprises can choose according to their own circumstances. With limited budget, low operating intensity, and short single-shot time, lead-acid can be considered; long-term use, high strength, and heavy efficiency space, lithium batteries can be considered.