- Yale launches new Power Key option. to help warehouses change among lift truck motive power technologies with greater agility.
- Solution adds thin plate pure lead to roster of power options, enables easy switch among all major battery electric sources.
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Yale Lift Truck Technologies has unveiled Power Key™, an innovative solution designed to offer versatility in an environment with a growing variety of electric power options. This upgrade on their previous product, lithium-ion-ready lift trucks, enables operations to conveniently switch between lead-acid, lithium-ion, and thin plate pure lead (TPPL) battery modes without needing external add-ons. TPPL, like lithium-ion, produces zero emissions and supports opportunity charging but comes at a lower initial cost, making it an appealing power option for some warehouse lift trucks.
Brad Long, Brand Manager, Yale Lift Truck Technologies, emphasizes, “From charging and battery maintenance responsibilities to emissions, lift truck motive power has a significant impact on warehouse labor, productivity, and sustainability. It is essential for warehouses to have unrestricted choice to identify their most efficient power source and supplier. However, choice in isolation is not sufficient. This solution directly responds to customer demand for flexibility by providing warehouses with seamlessly integrated technology that facilitates quick and easy transition among all three battery types.”
Power Key proves particularly beneficial for:
- Operations that have mixed fleets and need to continue to use lead-acid or are planning to transition to a fully maintenance-free fleet over time.
- Equipment used at multiple sites within an operation.
- Companies focused on accomplishing sustainability goals or regulations compliance.
- Electrification of internal combustion engine (ICE) fleets.
- Added resale value and broader buyer base for used equipment.
Power Key can be integrated into a wide selection of electric lift truck models
Power Key can be integrated into a wide selection of electric lift truck models, including selected narrow aisle riders, walkie pallet jacks, rider pallet trucks, and sit-down counterbalanced trucks. Trucks that are equipped with Power Key use an electronic Controller Area Network (CANbus) to establish a communication link between the battery supplied by a qualified provider and the truck. To toggle between different power sources and battery providers, operators simply need to interact with the truck’s display or controller.
When Power Key-enabled trucks are equipped with approved lithium-ion and TPPL batteries, they also come with a battery-state-of-charge display that’s built directly into the system – removing the need for an extra display. These trucks also have a battery protection mechanism that causes the truck to initiate a managed shutdown when the battery gets fully discharged. If the truck is in lithium-ion or TPPL mode, a low battery early warning system (EWS) issues several alerts to the operator indicating that the truck requires charging, the frequency of which depends on the specifications of the approved battery supplier. For a more detailed understanding of battery performance and lifespan, operations can access information through Yale Vision, an optional telemetry system.