Hyster Company has announced the availability of Power Cellect, an optional package for 27 Hyster electric forklift models.
According to Hyster, the Power Cellect allows customers to swap power sources in electric trucks between traditional lead acid and low maintenance battery alternatives such as thin plate pure lead (TPPL) and lithium-ion.
The solution is especially useful for fleets transitioning to low-maintenance battery solutions over time, as well as equipment that will be used for multiple applications with varying battery availability over its life.
Hyster formerly provided a lithium-ion ready option on electric vehicles, allowing for a smooth transition between lead acid and lithium-ion batteries.
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Power Cellect reportedly enhances the compatibility of lithium-ion batteries by including TPPL batteries and employs an electrical Controller Area Network (CANbus) for communication between a qualifying battery and the vehicle. Once the battery is replaced, vehicle settings may be readily altered to transition between power sources.
Furthermore, Hyster noted that the truck-side battery early warning system has lift interrupt and traction performance cutback capabilities, and that the truck’s battery discharge indicator (BDI) accurately depicts the state of charge across approved battery types, eliminating the need for secondary displays and indicators.
When the battery achieves full discharge, an inbuilt battery protection feature initiates a controlled shutdown, and when the Hyster Tracker telemetry system is installed, operations may examine further battery statistics such as battery state of health and lifetime discharge.
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James Nielson, Hyster Senior Business Product Manager for Motive Power and Electrification, said: “Whether sustainability goals, regulations compliance or other forces are driving electrification decisions, the common thread is that operations need flexibility. Power Cellect avoids locking operations into a single power option for the life of their equipment, and eliminates the complications and compromises of third-party setups.
“Facilitating this fluidity across battery types is the latest example of Hyster powering possibilities for forklift fleets working in all our customers’ applications, even the toughest, most demanding jobs.”
