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Most electric forklifts use lead acid batteries. These batteries are only warrantied for 1-2 years because they fail unpredictably after that time frame (hence
by jartelt 7y ago
Most electric forklifts use lead acid batteries. These batteries are only warrantied for 1-2 years because they fail unpredictably after that time frame (hence why they get replaced on that time frame). They also take forever to charge and their performance and lifetime is highly dependent on temperature. Basically, they are a pain.
EV buses will not be using lead acid and will use longer life battery tech (e.g. Li-ion), so your reason #2 will not be as big of an issue.
- sandworm101 7y agoA pain yes, but very easily recycled. The components of a lead acid battery are easily separated and each have a ready market to recycle them. Lithium ion batteries are complicated. No two models are identical. Many models change internally from year to year, change enough to frustrate recycling efforts. Their components are tightly layered and not readily separated mechanical. They may be better batteries but they are not necessarily better lifecycle components within a fleet of vehicles. That's why forklifts, golf carts, boats and cars are still being sold with lead acids.
- magduf 7y agoThey're still being sold with lead-acid batteries because they're cheap, and they're good enough for those applications. LiIon batteries are significantly more expensive, but if the application requires that performance (like EVs), then that's what you use. No one cares about having a golf cart with a 100-mile range.
- petre 7y agoAlso it's one of the few chemistries that still operate at low temperatures. They're not so great for other vehicles due to weight, spills. A spill can turn your vehicle into a pile of rust.