I. Basic Definition and Working Principle

II. Main Types and Feature Comparison

III. Advantage Comparison with Internal Combustion Forklifts

• Zero Emissions: No pollution, especially suitable for clean workshops (e.g., food, pharmaceutical, electronics industries) and indoor operations.
• Low Noise: Quiet operation improves the working environment and reduces the risk of hearing damage.
• Easy Operation: No clutch or gear shifting, one-button start, and short training cycle.
• Low Maintenance Cost: No need to ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ engine oil, spark plugs, etc.; maintenance mainly focuses on the battery system.
• Economical Energy Consumption: Operating cost is approximately 1/3 of that of internal combustion forklifts, making it more economical for long-term use.

IV. Core Technology: Detailed Explanation of the Battery System

1. Lead-Acid Battery vs. Lithium-Ion Battery: Comprehensive Comparison

2. Key Points for Charging Management

• Charging Timing: Charge when the battery level drops to 20–25%; avoid over-discharging.
• Charging Environment: Keep the area dry and well-ventilated, away from fire sources, equipped with fire extinguishers; optimal temperature range is 5–30°C.
• Charging Steps:
  1. Keep the forklift unloaded, lower the forks to the ground, turn off the power, and engage the handbrake.
  2. Connect the charger and ensure the interface is securely attached.
  3. Start charging and monitor the charging status.
  4. After full charge, press the stop button first; wait until the current returns to zero before unplugging the connector.

V. Intelligent Technology and Future Trends

1. Automation Upgrade: AGV Unmanned Forklifts

• Autonomous Navigation: Integrates laser radar, vision, and inertial navigation, with an accuracy of ±5mm, no need for ground markers.
• Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance: Real-time perception via multiple sensors, automatic detour around obstacles, safety factor increased by 50%.
• Remote Monitoring: Real-time tracking of position, status, and battery level through an IoT platform, with fault early warning.
• Cluster Scheduling: The system coordinates multiple forklifts for collaborative operations, optimizes paths, and avoids congestion.

2. New Human-Machine Collaboration Experience

• Intelligent Terminal: On-board touchscreen displays work instructions, battery level, and fault information for more convenient operation.
• Auxiliary Systems:
  • 3D visual recognition of goods to automatically adjust fork spacing.
  • Tilt Alarm: Prevents rollover caused by overloading or unbalanced loads.
  • Collision Warning: Audible and visual alerts when approaching obstacles.

VI. Purchasing Guide: How to Choose a Suitable Electric Forklift

1. Key Parameter Considerations

• Rated Load Capacity: Choose a capacity ≥ 1.2 times the actual maximum load to reserve a safety margin.
• Lifting Height: ｓｅｌｅｃｔ based on shelf height; 3–5 meters for standard models, 6–10 meters for high-level warehouses.
• Working Environment:
  • Indoor: Standard models are sufficient.
  • Outdoor/uneven ground: Choose models with pneumatic tires and stronger power.
  • Cold Storage: Low-temperature-resistant models with battery heating systems are required.
  • Explosion-Prone Areas: Special explosion-proof models are mandatory.
• Aisle Width: 3.5–4m for reach trucks, 3–3.5m for 3-way forklifts, 4.5–5m for counterbalanced forklifts.

2. Pitfall Avoidance Guide: Three Common Misconceptions

1. Blindly Pursuing Low Prices: Low prices may lead to short battery life (needing replacement in 1–2 years), high failure rates, and frequent maintenance, resulting in higher total costs.
2. Ignoring Usage Scenarios: Failing to consider ground conditions, space size, temperature, and humidity may cause the equipment to be "incompatible" with the environment.
3. Underestimating After-Sales Service: Slow maintenance response and insufficient spare parts supply will significantly affect production efficiency. It is recommended to choose brands with local service outlets.

VII. Safe Operation Specifications

1. Personnel Qualification Requirements

• Operators must receive professional training, pass assessments, and hold a special equipment operation certificate before taking up the post.
• Unauthorized operation by unqualified or non-authorized personnel is strictly prohibited.

2. Operation Key Points

• Before Startup: Inspect the brakes, lights, horn, tire pressure, battery level, and hydraulic system.
• Driving Specifications:
  • Keep the forks 15–20cm above the ground; lower them to the minimum height when passing obstacles.
  • Slow down when turning, reverse when going downhill, and drive slowly with the horn sounding when visibility is obstructed.
  • Maximum Speed: 12km/h when unloaded, 8km/h when loaded, 6km/h when handling fragile goods.
• Goods Handling:
  • The forks must be fully inserted into the pallet, with an insertion depth ≥ 2/3 of the pallet length.
  • Overloading (exceeding the rated load) is strictly prohibited; single-fork operation is not allowed.
  • The center of gravity of the goods should be close to the forklift body to avoid unbalanced loading.
• Prohibited Behaviors:
  • Carrying passengers is strictly prohibited (only the operator is allowed).
  • Long-term stay or turning on slopes is prohibited.
  • Starting the forklift during charging is prohibited.

VIII. Comprehensive Maintenance Guide

1. Daily Maintenance (Before Each Use)

• Clean the forklift body and remove debris from the forks and mast slides.
• Inspect tire wear, air pressure, and loose fasteners.
• Test the functions of brakes, steering, lights, and horn.
• Check the battery level to ensure it is sufficient.

2. Monthly Maintenance

• Battery Maintenance:
  • Lead-Acid Battery: Check the electrolyte level; add distilled water if necessary (only after full charge).
  • Lithium-Ion Battery: Check for loose connections; no action is needed if there are no obvious abnormalities.
• Hydraulic System: Inspect oil level and leakage; add hydraulic oil (ISO VG32) if necessary.
• Mast & Chain: Inspect roller clearance and chain tension; add lubricant.

3. Quarterly Maintenance

• Conduct a comprehensive inspection of the electrical system to ensure good insulation and no damage to wires.
• Clean the electric control box, check for loose connectors, and prevent water ingress.
• Inspect the quality of hydraulic oil; ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ it if necessary (every 500 hours of operation).

4. Golden Rules for Extending Battery Life

• Lead-Acid Battery: Perform a balanced charge (8–12 hours) once a month.
• Lithium-Ion Battery: Perform a deep charge-discharge cycle (full charge and full discharge) once every 3 months.
• Avoid long-term storage of the battery in a discharged state; it is recommended to keep lithium-ion batteries at 50% charge during storage.

IX. Summary: Electric Forklift Purchasing Decision Tree

1. Determine the usage scenario: Indoor/Outdoor → Light load (<2 tons)/Heavy load (>2 tons) → Aisle width → Ambient temperature.
2. ｓｅｌｅｃｔ the type:
   • Standard warehouses: Counterbalanced or reach trucks.
   • Narrow aisles: Reach trucks or 3-way forklifts.
   • High-level order picking: Electric order pickers.
   • Light-weight handling: Electric pallet trucks.
3. Choose the battery:
   • Budget priority, infrequent charge-discharge: Lead-acid battery.
   • Efficiency-focused, long-term use: Lithium-ion battery (lithium iron phosphate).
4. Brand decision: Consider overall cost-effectiveness, local after-sales service, and product quality reputation.