Converting electric forklifts to use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery packs as a power source is an easy and efficient process and can also contribute to significant cost-savings and enhanced energy efficiency, according to a South African supplier and distributor of industrial lithium-ion batteries.

Chemical and solar energy technologies company, CHASE Technologies, specialises in the conversion of battery-operated heavy equipment to use LiFePO4 battery packs. It designs and manufactures ballast tanks according to minimum weight requirements and specific dimensions based on individual requirements.

The company asserts that its tank-fabrication capabilities ensure that all installed tanks fit snugly into the machinery. The units are sealed and a rubber mat is placed underneath the battery to prevent any metal-on-metal contact.

For very large orders, the company uses ready-made custom-built tanks, allowing a LiFePO4 battery pack to be a simple ‘drop-in’ component, ensuring quick turnaround times. Once the battery packs have been assembled, a pre-delivery inspection is carried out to check that all the plugs are correct and that the chargers are working properly.

The company explains that warranties are not affected by converting the power supply from lead acid batteries to LiFePO4. The main difference with the CHASE Technologies pack is that it comes with a separate control display used to switch the battery on and off, which is also an added safety measure. The company states that it is developing a system to integrate the battery pack display with the forklift display.

Another service offered by the company is the customised spray-painting of its fabricated tanks, according to specific customer branding requirements. It can also produce the necessary technical drawings if a tank needs to be manufactured.

An additional advantage in the South African context is that in many instances, forklifts are imported without batteries, as it is more cost-effective to source batteries locally and after-sales service is more readily available. This makes the conversion process even simpler, asserts CHASE Technologies, explaining that it then only requires the weight and dimensions of the tank and the battery ampere hours, which allow it to provide the equivalent LiFePO4.