Exide Technologies' supply motive power batteries to customers around the globe and it's not unusual for satisfied customers to request a replacement battery at the end of its service life. But Exide staff were recently surprised to get a request from a Mauritius engineering company wanting a price for a replacement battery on behalf of a customer's Toyota forklift truck - whose original battery was 15 years old! Unsurprisingly, the customer was keen to replace the battery with one of the same type from the same manufacturer.

Jean-Marie Nuteau of Ray & Lenferna, Mauritius comments, "The customer has stuck to a regular maintenance schedule and operated the truck, battery and charger within good-practice guidelines which goes to show what can be achieved with the right product. Fifteen years service is a remarkable achievement, especially when you consider the battery has been operated in a tropical climate."