Fronius, the Austrian battery charging system specialist, has developed a generation of battery charging systems for traction batteries that is both a world first and totally in keeping with today's requirements: resource-conserving and cost-effective. In addition to a much longer battery service life, one of the most impressive features of the new Ri charging process is its maximum energy efficiency.

It's unfortunately a fact: more than half of all the battery charging systems used in Europe to charge forklift truck batteries still rely on the old 50 Hz transformer technology. The efficiency levels of such systems are, by today's standards, frighteningly low. The power loss means that device efficiency hovers around the 80 percent mark. And the charging efficiency, at just 70 percent, is even lower. Bringing both together gives a total efficiency figure of about 56 percent. Or, to put it another way, of all the energy drawn from the socket, an average of 44 percent, almost half, is lost when the vehicle battery is fully charged. And in times when everyone is increasingly trying to conserve resources, such wastage is hardly justifiable.

A step in the right direction - albeit a small one - was taken with the introduction of battery charging systems employing inverter or HF technology for traction batteries. This technology boasts a certain amount of intelligence, checks the battery and monitors the charging process from start to finish. But with a total efficiency of approximately 68 percent, these battery charging systems still consume comparatively large amounts of electricity. The reasons for this are the high charging losses at the start of the charging process and the overcharging at the end.

A more significant change of tack towards greater efficiency was the development by Fronius, the Austrian battery charging system specialist, of "Selectiva" battery charging systems with "Active Inverter Technology" for intralogistics applications. This high-frequency based technology returns a total efficiency figure of around 74 percent. Proven in the field since 2005, it delivers significant savings in energy costs and results in less maintenance of the batteries while extending their service life. The small footprint of the system frees up valuable storage space and the technology helps the environment by dramatically reducing CO2 emissions. All in all, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is significantly lower.

Real customer benefit as a result of reduced power requirements
During times when intralogistics represents a growing cost factor in many businesses, a trend towards greater efficiency is becoming increasingly apparent. In addition, fresh requirements are emerging from within the logistics chain, the topic of sustainability being a good example. In many cases, it is precisely energy costs that make up such a large proportion of the overall costs. To reduce these costs even further, the Fronius specialists have developed a new generation of "Selectiva" systems with three-phase connections for the 24, 48 and 80 Volt traction batteries typically found in electric stackers, narrow-aisle stackers and electro-tractors. The new systems - distinguishable by their fresh black and red design - were unveiled to the public at the LogiMAT 2013 show in Stuttgart. They impress with their maximum energy efficiency, maximum battery service life and maximum levels of safety and, with the new, groundbreaking Ri charging process introduced by Fronius, will change the battery charging system landscape for ever.

As batteries are being charged and discharged, the effective inner resistance of the cells (Ri) causes heat to be released. This results in the loss of some of the energy used in the charging process. The relationship between the amount of energy available from the battery to the energy applied during charging is referred to as the charging efficiency. In other words, the lower the charging losses, the higher the charging efficiency. This is where the Fronius specialists came in. They complained that the charge losses were being caused by predefined charging characteristics in which a preset, and sometimes too high, charging current was applied to the battery at the start of the charging process, regardless of the state of charge of the battery. To alter this state of affairs, the Austrian engineers came up with the Ri charging process with its own characteristic.