Electrification is also advancing in the heavy-duty sector. What developments can be observed on the market?

Gojer: Heavy-duty forklifts, reach stackers and container handlers are indispensable for handling goods in the timber industry, in the recycling sector or in ports and on cargo ships. In these industries, heavy loads and bulky goods have to be transported and lifted both indoors and outdoors. We are currently seeing a trend away from combustion engines towards electric drives in these applications. The reason for this is an increased awareness of sustainability on the one hand and potential cost savings on the other. Electric industrial trucks are becoming increasingly powerful. Even applications with high load capacities - which were previously reserved for forklift trucks with combustion engines - are gradually being electrified.

What challenges do users face in these areas?

Gojer: With the electrification of heavy-duty industrial trucks, energy requirements are also increasing. Both batteries and chargers need to be designed on a larger scale. To be able to move high tonnages, traction batteries with 96 to 120 volts are used. The purchase of these batteries can be very cost-intensive. Unsuitable battery charging technology causes high maintenance costs and unnecessary costs for frequent new battery and charger purchases. Demanding conditions such as fluctuating power grid quality or extreme temperature fluctuations outdoors also pose a challenge for our customers. In addition, two batteries are often used in parallel in heavy-duty forklift trucks. For these reasons, it is very important to rely on powerful and reliable charging technology.

What solutions does Fronius use to support its customers?

Prielinger: We have developed a new charging technology portfolio especially for these applications. The Fronius Selectiva 4.0 96V and 120V chargers enable safe and efficient charging for all common lead-acid batteries in high performance classes. A particular advantage is the high level of flexibility. The devices have characteristic curves for lead-acid battery types (PzS, EPzS, PzQ and CSM) with different voltages. This simplifies charging processes and helps industrial truck operators to save costs. As applications often take place outdoors, we offer an extensive outdoor portfolio that is geared towards the specific challenges of outdoor charging.

Batteries are often used in parallel in heavy-duty forklift trucks. What needs to be considered here when charging?

Prielinger: Incorrect handling, such as removing the battery too early or using a faulty charger, can lead to large deviations in the state of charge of the batteries. This can result in high equalizing currents between the batteries when they are connected to the vehicle. This may result in damage to the batteries and the vehicle. To prevent this situation, the Selectiva 4.0 96V and 120V chargers can be equipped with the Fronius Charger InterLock. This ensures that both batteries are fully charged and have the same state of charge when the battery is removed. Users benefit from a longer battery service life, which is also not uninteresting from an economic point of view for these battery types.