Subject to increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints, companies are looking for new ways to reduce their emissions in ways that promote worker safety, improve company image and save money. To these ends a number of facilities are abandoning propane or diesel forklifts in favor of electric vehicles, and using battery management systems to ensure efficiency and profits stay high.
Greenhouse Gas Dangers
It seems like you can't go a day without yet another dire report about the environmental catastrophe of climate change, but let's not forget all of the other negative effects of carbon emissions. Poor air quality has been linked to respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma in studies that go back to the 1950s. More recent research shows links with lung and other cancers, and poor air quality has been correlated with shorter life spans.
Forklift drivers and warehouse workers are more susceptible to these health problems since they are close to the source. This is a particularly severe problem in indoor spaces, but even outdoor work areas can be dangerous. The emissions don't dissipate immediately so local workers are exposed to much higher levels of dangerous pollutants than the general population is.
Return On Investment
Even if electric forklifts are better for the environment and worker health than diesel or propane trucks, converting to a new technology costs money. Managers have to be able to justify the expense to the company's bottom line. It turns out no justification is needed because, especially in light of recent spikes in fuel prices, electric forklifts are cheaper to operate than other technologies. Rather than viewing it as an expense, managers should consider the conversion as an investment.
There will be an initial expense as new forklifts are purchased and a battery management system is implemented, but fleet operating expenses will drop the first month the new vehicles are used. Some state governments and other organizations offer rebates that defray the conversion cost. In the long run electric vehicles will save rather than cost the company money.
Setting Up The System
Profit is good but maximum profit is better. Fleet managers should plan ahead to implement a battery management system that provides maximum productivity at minimum cost. For example most fleets find that using battery lifts to swap out batteries to vehicles in the field is more efficient than having trucks drive into a central charging area.
A well designed battery management system extends the life and therefore lowers the cost of the power cells. Maintenance includes not only proper charging schedules but washing off corrosion that impacts battery performance. Third party contractors offer battery washing but most fleets will find it cheaper to buy their own washers and handle it in house.
Electric vehicles are better for the environment, better for the workers and better for the company bottom line. Don't continue to use outdated technologies. Make it a priority to convert to electric forklifts backed by an efficient battery management system.
Author writes about a variety of topics. If you would like to learn more about battery management system, please visit http://www.multi-shifter.com.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_M_Harrell
0 comments:
Post a Comment