In low-temperature winter environments, key components of electric forklifts such as battery performance, hydraulic systems, and tire grip are vulnerable to impacts. Improper maintenance may lead to increased failure rates, shortened battery life, and even potential safety hazards. The following details the precautions for winter use from four core dimensions: battery maintenance, vehicle-wide inspection, operating specifications, and environmental protection.
- Charging Environment Temperature: Prioritize charging indoors at 5-30°C. Direct charging in low-temperature environments below -10°C is prohibited (lead-acid batteries are prone to plate damage de to electrolyte freezing, while lithium batteries may trigger low-temperature protection and fail to charge). If the forklift can only be parked outdoors, move the battery indoors for 30 minutes of preheating before charging.
- Charging Timing: Charge the battery immediately when the remaining power is 20%-30%. Avoid "low-temperature standing after deep discharge" (active substances in the battery are prone to crystallization in a discharged state, causing irreversible capacity damage). Charging time in winter is 20%-30% longer than at room temperature, so sufficient time should be reserved. Disconnect the power promptly after full charging (avoid floating charging of lead-acid batteries for more than 12 hours; lithium batteries will automatically disconnect after full charging, but long-term connection to the power supply should be avoided).
- Inspection of Charging Equipment: Regularly check if the charger fan and plug are functioning properly, and ensure the charging voltage/current matches the battery (a faulty charger in low temperatures may easily lead to insufficient charging or overcharging).
- Daily Inspection: Before daily use, check the battery's appearance (for bulging or leakage) and power indicator (if the indicator flashes or the range drops sharply, investigate whether it is due to low-temperature capacity degradation or battery aging). For lead-acid batteries, check the electrolyte level weekly (add distilled water if it is below the scale line; tap water or electrolyte is prohibited to prevent concentration abnormalities).
- Cleaning and Insulation: Wipe the battery terminals with a dry cloth weekly (to remove oxides and avoid poor contact, which reduces charging efficiency). If parked outdoors, install an insulation cover for the battery (choose flame-retardant materials and avoid covering the charger or heat-dissipating components), while ensuring good ventilation of the battery to prevent overheating.
Low winter temperatures can increase the viscosity of lubricating oil, harden rubber components, and reduce the fluidity of hydraulic oil. The following components should be inspected in advance:
| Inspection Component | Winter Precautions | Inspection Frequency |
|---|
| Hydraulic System | 1. ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ with winter-specific low-viscosity hydraulic oil (e.g., 46# anti-wear hydraulic oil, which has better fluidity at low temperatures to avoid lifting jams);2. Check for leakage in hydraulic hoses and joints (rubber seals are prone to hardening and cracking at low temperatures);3. After starting, operate the lifting and tilting mechanisms 2-3 times without load, and start working only after the hydraulic oil has warmed up. | Before daily startup |
| Tires and Brakes | 1. Check tire pressure (tire pressure decreases at low temperatures; inflate to the standard value to avoid increased driving resistance and power consumption caused by low tire pressure);2. Clean snow, ice, and gravel from tire treads (to prevent slipping, especially during outdoor operations);3. Test braking performance (the viscosity of brake fluid increases at low temperatures; if the brake pedal becomes soft or the stroke lengthens, check the brake fluid level and whether there is air leakage in the pipeline). | Before daily startup |
| Electrical System | 1. Check wire harness connectors (e.g., battery terminals, controller plugs) for looseness or oxidation (metal conductivity slightly decreases at low temperatures; poor contact may easily lead to power failure or malfunctions);2. Test lights, horns, and steering systems (winter has shorter daylight hours and more severe weather; ensure warning devices are functional);3. If equipped with a heater, check whether the heater works properly after startup (to prevent fogging on the cab glass, which affects visibility). | Before daily startup |
"Instant full-load startup" is prohibited at low temperatures. After startup, let the forklift idle for 3-5 minutes (to gradually warm up the battery, motor, and hydraulic system), then drive slowly and operate the mechanisms without load. Load the goods only after the entire vehicle operates stably.
- Drive at a reduced speed outdoors, and avoid sudden acceleration, sudden braking, and sharp turns (icy and snowy roads have poor grip, making the vehicle prone to skidding).
- Do not exceed the rated load. The load capacity of the motor and battery decreases at low temperatures, and overloading will aggravate range degradation and component wear.
- Maintain a low and constant speed when climbing slopes, and avoid stopping midway (to prevent rolling backward; place anti-slip pads under the wheels if necessary).
- After operation, prioritize parking the forklift in a dry indoor area. If it can only be parked outdoors, turn off the main power supply and cover the battery and controller with a waterproof cloth to prevent rain and snow from seeping in.
- For long-term non-use (e.g., more than 3 days), charge the battery fully before storage and recharge it once a week (to avoid permanent capacity loss caused by low-temperature deep discharge).
- Pull the handbrake tightly and place wheel chocks properly to prevent rolling when parked.
When the cab glass fogs up, use the heater to defog (avoid wiping with hands or rags to prevent leaving marks that affect visibility). After operation, promptly clean snow and ice from the vehicle body, especially the snow in the battery compartment and around the brake discs (to prevent freezing after melting and jamming components).
If the forklift freezes after being parked outdoors, do not use an open flame to heat the battery or hydraulic pipelines (which may easily cause component damage or battery explosion). Instead, use warm water (below 40°C) to slowly melt the ice on key parts, or let the forklift idle to warm up and thaw naturally after startup.
In conclusion, the core of winter maintenance for
electric forklifts is to "
protect the battery, prevent low-temperature damage, strengthen inspections, and ensure stable operation". Through proactive prevention and standardized use, the impact of low temperatures on performance can be minimized, the service life of the equipment can be extended, and operational safety can be guaranteed.
