Battery purchase costs are a major expense for a forklift fleet. A battery changing system helps businesses use batteries more efficiently and get maximum life from each cell, but companies can save money another way. Rather than buying new power cells, try buying used cells for your fleet.

Used Forklift Batteries

Over time, rechargeable systems lose the ability to hold a charge. Proper handling and the use of a battery changing system can reduce this power decay, but the end is inevitable. However equipment that is useless to one business might still have value to another. Batteries used in large vehicles or in forklifts carrying heavy loads need a lot of juice. When they have deteriorated to the point they can't be used in these power-hungry operations, they are often sold at a deep discount to companies dealing in lighter goods. Used power cells can be purchased at less than half the cost of new ones, and can be used for many months in forklifts that transport light loads. Companies can save thousands of dollars per year if they can get past the stigma of used goods.

Advantages Of Used Batteries

As mentioned, buying used means saving money. Businesses sell used cells hoping to recoup some of the initial investment. Companies with mixed fleets can supply their own used batteries by using new power cells in heavy equipment and then, after a few months, moving the cells to the light-duty fleet. Each unit gets double the life it would have otherwise.

Recycling has environmental benefits as well. Rechargeable power cells have a lot of heavy metals that are dangerous to the environment, especially the water table. Even if the units are properly recycled, the process uses energy and generates greenhouse gasses. Reusing a battery and increasing its life means using fewer batteries over time, and fewer resources used to recycle them.

Special Care Required

The biggest drawback to used cells is that, even in light-duty vehicles, they won't hold charges as long as new units. However this doesn't have to be more than a minor inconvenience as long as a proper battery changing system is used. Forklifts may not be able to go an entire shift without needing a recharge, but a battery changing system means each vehicle has little downtime. The drained cell is removed and replaced with a new one, while the drained unit is transported to the recharging area. Fleet operations proceed as normal with little loss of productivity, and a significant savings in fleet costs.

The simple act of increasing replacement frequency is all it takes to add used power cells to your fleet management strategy. The rewards are substantially reduced costs and a cleaner environment, and the downside is nearly negligible with an appropriate replacement strategy and a good battery changing system.