Mitsubishi Equipment Europe BV to exhibit latest development in hybrid forklift technology at Bauma exhibition

The world's first lithium-ion-battery/diesel-engine forklift truck, developed by parent company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), can be seen on stand 304, hall A5, at the Bauma exhibition in Munich from 19th to 25th April.

Already in production in Japan, where it was launched as the first ever 4.0 to 5.0 tonne capacity hybrid forklift, the truck will be released for the European market in 2011, according to sources at Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks.

In a move reaffirming the manufacturer's commitment to producing environmentally friendly, innovative and highly efficient trucks, the company will focus specifically on meeting European customer needs when introducing these hybrids to the European market.

The new additions will expand the already comprehensive range of Mitsubishi counterbalance and warehouse truck models.

Forklift truck applications typically involve many short acceleration and deceleration cycles, with a high energy demand, which is why the use of hybrid technology in forklifts can be so beneficial.

In this case Mitsubishi has achieved significant increases in fuel efficiency over traditional IC engine trucks of similar capacity.

With a unique forklift powertrain design, comprising a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, a compact, low-emission diesel engine, two induction motors and an inverter, Mitsubishi has cut engine displacement by one-third and significantly reduced CO2 emissions.

Despite their small engine size, these high-specification hybrid models have been designed to deliver powerful performance - along with the famous Mitsubishi reliability.