Performance Degradation of Electric Forklifts in Winter: Causes and Specifics
The core manifestation of reduced performance of electric forklifts in winter lies in battery capacity and endurance. Performance degradation varies significantly across different battery types and low-temperature environments. Meanwhile, hydraulic systems, components, and other parts also experience varying degrees of performance decline. The specific details are as follows:
Battery Performance (Core Degradation Item)
| Battery Type | Performance Degradation at Different Temperatures |
|---|---|
| Lead-Acid Battery | Its optimal operating temperature is 25℃. For every 1℃ ｄｒｏｐ in temperature, the maximum capacity decreases by approximately 0.8%. At 5℃, the battery capacity is only 84% remaining; when the temperature drops to around -18℃, the battery capacity may decrease by 45%; at -20℃, the capacity may even ｄｒｏｐ to about 50%. |
| Regular Lithium-Ion Battery | At 0℃, the endurance is approximately 90% of that at room temperature; at -20℃ without special anti-freeze treatment, the capacity will decrease by 30-40%; at -30℃, the endurance can only reach 40% of the room temperature level. For optimized lithium-ion batteries adapted to low-temperature environments, they can maintain 85-90% of the normal capacity at -20℃. |
Hydraulic and Transmission Systems
Low temperatures cause a significant increase in the viscosity of hydraulic oil, leading to a sharp rise in operating resistance of the hydraulic system. Forklift operations such as lifting and tilting become sluggish, and jamming may even occur. Meanwhile, shift impact increases, and oil seals of hydraulic cylinders may leak due to reduced elasticity caused by cold shrinkage, resulting in an overall decline in operational efficiency. Data shows that low temperatures can reduce the response speed of the forklift's hydraulic system by 20%-30%.
Performance of Other Components
Rubber components such as tires and seals harden and become brittle at low temperatures. Tire grip decreases by approximately 15-20%, which not only affects driving stability but also makes them more prone to wear and tear or rupture. Metal components undergo cold shrinkage, affecting the fitting accuracy between parts. Long-term use at low temperatures increases the probability of equipment failures. For example, pipelines and air valves of pneumatic braking systems are prone to brake failure due to water vapor freezing.
