Due to COVID-19, the increasing demand for e-commerce sales has undoubtedly put pressure on many warehouses and fulfillment centers to improve efficiency.

According to the Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, as adjusted retail e-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2020 reach 211.5 billion U.S. dollars, the surge and volatility in demand emphasizes maximizing work capacity and coping with increasing unpredictability The necessity of sex. 1 This figure shows an increase of 31.8% over the first quarter of 2020 and an astonishing 44.5% increase over the second quarter of 2019.

The surge in demand for e-commerce sales is being reflected worldwide, and there is no sign of stopping, because we are preparing for further restrictions based on the second wave of COVID-19 globally. Therefore, warehouses and fulfillment centers need to improve operational predictability.

When evaluating warehouse efficiency, it is important to understand the performance limitations of equipment. Aging forklifts that are no longer operating at the required efficiency may need to be repaired or replaced to meet high demand. However, it is also important to understand how the product's components hinder its performance. Especially its power source: battery.

The importance of the right battery

The right battery can not only have a significant impact on performance, but it can also have a significant impact on the footprint and operating costs of the warehouse. Lithium-ion batteries are an important part of the solution. Their application in electric industrial vehicles (including forklifts) helps reduce downtime, increase production and increase reliability.

As the demand for warehouses continues to increase, operators need to expand the use of machines. Lithium-ion batteries help reduce idle time by significantly increasing the charging speed, and provide the main advantage of opportunistic charging options when needed, without affecting battery life.

Using lithium phosphate ion can provide approximately 4,500 charge cycles, depending on the user profile. Although the initial purchase cost is higher, the extended service life translates into a significant difference in return on investment.

The innovative battery monitoring system (BMS) and active balance mode can be used for the charging and discharging cycles of lithium-ion batteries. It also allows the energy flow and reception between the batteries to be equal, so that they are always maintained at the same voltage level, thereby optimizing the performance of the battery The performance and life cycle of a system.

Compared with classic lead-acid solutions, improved energy efficiency can significantly reduce the power consumption of the charge-discharge cycle, coupled with zero emissions during operation, proves that the air quality in the warehouse is improved-no special charging room is required.

Keep safety in mind

However, when it comes to the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries, it is important to specify batteries from trusted manufacturers and follow care and maintenance instructions. The composition of lithium-ion batteries is quite complex. From a manufacturing point of view, this needs to be considered at the very beginning, from the use of high-quality raw materials to the most advanced manufacturing processes that comply with health and safety standards (such as IEC 61508 health and safety regulations).

Compared with other battery options, lithium-ion batteries require less maintenance due to their composition, provide a longer service life, and can improve the company’s environmental footprint, compared with the resulting annual TCO (total cost of ownership) Significantly reduce other technologies. However, the main safety issue of lithium-ion batteries is the risk of fire.

When the temperature rises above the specified value due to overcharging, deep discharge or mechanical failure, a fire will occur. In order to reduce these risks, built-in safety measures are used during battery manufacturing. In order to provide warnings for possible dangerous situations, it is important to find manufacturers that provide BMS cloud connectivity features as a standard, which can send alerts via email and include predictive maintenance. The battery management system with cloud connectivity opens up new possibilities for fleet management.

Since e-commerce shows no signs of slowing down, and fulfillment centers continue to improve efficiency in response to the surge in demand, simple changes such as the adoption and proper maintenance of lithium-ion batteries can greatly increase productivity. By choosing batteries with built-in safety measures, BMS and cloud connectivity as standard from trusted manufacturers, the warehouse can continue to provide customers with fast and reliable services even in these challenging times.