Opportunity Charging

OPPORTUNITY CHARGING BENEFITS IN THE WAREHOUSE

Opportunity charging is a system that permits batteries to be charged several times during the work cycle (usually eight hours). This permits one battery to remain in the vehicle much longer than the traditional power sources. The objective is to eliminate the requirement to change spent batteries during a shift day.

Operating in a warehouse, running forklifts through multiple shifts a day can be an extremely taxing job. You need to take time to charge and let them cool down, which in busy operations can be difficult. Now, with the emergence of lithium-ion batteries, opportunity charging has becoming more popular.

Which Battery Type is Better Suited for Opportunity Charging?

Opportunity charging is available for forklifts with lithium-ion batteries (LiB) and lead-acid batteries, but is much better suited for LiB. With this method, the batteries can stay in the truck for multiple shifts while being charged. It also takes advantage of breaks to charge the forklift.

For example, when your employees are on lunch, taking a break, or switching shifts, the forklift can be plugged in and charged. When the operator returns, the forklift will have enough juice until the next charging opportunity. While opportunity charging is still available for lead-acid batteries, it can have some negative side effects, such as shortened battery life, and increased maintenance requirements. Whereas with lithium-ion batteries, it can actually extend the overall life, and there is no need for the increased battery maintenance.

What type of Warehouses Utilize Opportunity Charging?

While opportunity charging is best used for multi-shift warehouses, you can schedule a warehouse consultation with Southwest ToyotaLift to see if it would be beneficial for your business.

If your warehouse is operating with a single shift cycle, you should have plenty of time to allow the forklifts to charge when the shift is over. But if you run in a multi-shift cycle, you usually don’t have the benefit of time, so opportunity charging can be extremely helpful in reducing downtime.

Considerations for Opportunity Charging

Now that you know the basics of opportunity charging, you might be open to the idea. But before you can move any further, make sure you take these things into consideration:

Will your operation benefit from opportunity charging?

As we talked about before, opportunity charging is typically for multi-shift operations. See how much time passes between each shift break, and if you find that some forklifts have downtime while you wait for them to charge, opportunity charging may be beneficial.

What kind of charging stations do you have? Where are the chargers located?

Opportunity charging does require a specific charging station, so you won’t be able to use the same charging station as you used for your lead-acid batteries. This is an initial investment that your company will need to consider before they make a decision.

Contact a warehouse consultation if you have and doubts!

A Toyota Forklift Dealer can be an excellent resource if you’re thinking about changing to lithium-ion batteries and opportunity charging. They will be able to help you understand if your business needs to make a change, as well as the proper location and process for when the changes are made.

Keep in mind, opportunity charging won’t work for every operation. Make sure you take the time to research and talk to the experts at Southwest ToyotaLift. When used correctly, opportunity charging can be used to reduce downtime and keep your operation moving.