A forklift battery manufacturer in Europe has developed a new type of lithium iron phosphate battery that theoretically, at least, never needs replacing.
The new battery was unveiled by BYD Europe at CeMAT, the materials handling trade show that was held this month in Hamburg, Germany. It requires significantly less time and energy to charge than traditional lead-acid batteries and offers such a dramatically extended total battery life that it need never be replaced, according to a company news release.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries, also known as the Fe battery, can be recharged in as little as one to two hours, compared to the four to eight hour recharging time required for lead-acid batteries. Plus, the Fe battery can be topped off with a ten-minute recharging while it the vehicle is being used to extend its working life up to 45 minutes.
“The quick full charging time and the ability to top up the charge in short bursts without damaging overall battery life make the BYD lithium iron phosphate battery hugely flexible for end users,” the news release stated.
The Fe battery is also safer to use than acid-lead batteries which contain heavy metals or acid that can contain ground or water supplies, and heat up significantly during charging.
But it’s the anticipated lifespan that makes the Fe battery so astonishing. Even after 4,000 charging cycles, lithium iron phosphate batteries retain more than 75% of their original capacity. That means that after eight years of dual-shift operation five days per week, the remaining capacity in the battery will exceed 75%, the company claimed.