Find the right forklift energy solution for your operation
At Toyota Material Handling, we understand that choosing the right forklift energy solution for your truck fleet is crucial for maximising productivity, efficiency, and sustainability, while minimising costs. Our energy specialists work as your trusted advisers, analysing your operations to find the right energy solution for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, we partner with you to identify the best fit for your unique needs.
Our energy solutions can help you:
- Enjoy a leaner operation without trucks standing still due to low battery.
- Meet your sustainability goals by cutting back on energy usage and emissions.
- Reduce operational costs by choosing the most efficient energy solution for your operation.
- Implement a customised energy plan that optimises space and fits seamlessly into your workflow.
- Enhance productivity, improve truck uptime and streamline production timescales.
- Experience a reliable, easy and safe energy solution that adapts to your evolving needs.
- No compromise on performance or safety.
Which energy source is right for my forklift trucks?
When deciding which energy source is right for your forklifts and material handling equipment, we work with you to assess your business requirements, to ensure you get the most effective and efficient energy solution for your fleet. We understand that operating costs are one of the main contributors to the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of material handling equipment, that’s why choosing the right energy solution is crucial. The table below compares some of the most common options:
Lithium-ion
Time to fully charge: 80 min
Charging Infrastructure: None, charges on your electricity network
Maintenance: None
Life cycle: 5,000 charging cycles
Emissions: None (combined with green electricity)
Availability: Full electric range
Hydrogen Fuel cell
Time to fully charge: 3 min
Charging Infrastructure: Fuel station and optional electrolyser
Maintenance: Minimal
Life cycle: 10 years
Emissions: None (combined with green hydrogen)
Availability: 90% of electric range
Lead-acid
Time to fully charge: 8-12 hours
Charging Infrastructure: Separate charging room
Maintenance: Intense: regular water topping
Life cycle: 1,500 charging cycles
Emissions: Chemicals during charging
Availability: Full electric range
Lithium-ion
Hydrogen Fuel cell
Lead-acid
What are the benefits of these energy solutions?
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion is the most efficient energy solution available. Highly suited to both single and multi-shift environments, it is easier and faster to charge than lead-acid and allows opportunity charging.
Benefits of Lithium ion batteries include:
- More than three times the lifecycle of lead-acid batteries
- 30% more energy-efficient than lead-acid
- Easy and fast charging
- No battery servicing required
- No emissions when green electricity is used
- Low life-cycle cost
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
If you manage a heavy-duty application or an intense multi-shift operation where opportunity charging isn’t possible, fuel cell is the right way to go.
Some benefits include:
- CO2 emissions-free
- Quick refuelling
- Easy to store and transport
- No performance loss, even when the tank is almost empty
- Low maintenance
- Can be retrofitted into existing equipment
Lead acid
While lead-acid batteries have the lowest initial cost, they do require regular maintenance to remain in peak condition. The batteries require a separate charging room and take 8-12 hours to be fully charged.
Lead-acid is great for a simplistic logistics process with circular economy principles. Benefits include:
- Cost-effective
- 98% recyclable
- Tried and tested technology
- Available on most of our electric trucks
Lithium-ion
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Lead acid
How can combustion engines support my forklift operation?
A truck with an internal combustion engine has a lower initial cost compared to an electric truck. Engine-powered trucks are suitable for outdoor applications and operate well in unfavourable weather such as rain. To be used inside, your operation requires a sufficient ventilation system in the operating environment to handle exhaust emissions. Internal combustion engines don’t require any charging time and are easy and quick to refuel if the infrastructure for refuelling is available.
Toyota’s counterbalanced internal combustion range surpasses the latest European stage V regulations for emissions and is available with two different fuel options: diesel and LPG, with lift capacity up to eight tonnes.
Benefits of engine-powered forklifts
Ideal for outdoor tasks, internal combustion engines offer several benefits:
- Efficient and long run time between refuelling
- Low initial cost
- Fast refuelling for LPG tanks
- Suitable for outdoor applications
We'll help you to find the right solution
At Toyota, we recognise that no two businesses are the same. We consider your specific needs such as business type, operational patterns, application, utilisation rate, company vision, complexity level, sustainability goals and more to find the ideal energy source that aligns with your operations.
We’re more than just a provider, we’re your partner in ensuring that your material handling operations run smoothly, sustainably, and cost-effectively. We help you find the optimal combination of energy source, trucks, and operation layout to suit your business.
Know and go
Did you find the right energy solution for you? Now let’s match it with the truck model suitable for your business. Below are four common truck types to help you get started.
Compact, light and agile
- Highly energy-efficient
- Easy to manoeuver
- Ideal for confined spaces
- Built around Li-ion
Recommendations:
Toyota BT Levio LWI160 is a powered warehouse truck ideal for working in confined spaces such as retail sales areas, shops and supermarkets.
Productive and comfortable
- Proven innovation
- Ergonomic operator compartment
- Lifting capacity up to 13 m
- With intelligent li-ion energy packs
Recommendations:
Our reach truck range is wide and can support many different applications: indoor, outdoor and in confined spaces.
Efficient indoor and outdoor
- High manoeuvrability
- Available in 3 & 4-wheel version
- Armrest with fingertip control
- Available with Li-ion
Recommendations:
The Traigo 48 models are very energy-efficient, come with excellent all-round visibility and high lifting and driving performance.
Durable, powerful and reliable
- Outdoor use
- Uneven floor
- Torque converter or HST transmission
- Available with LPG or Diesel
Recommendations:
The Tonero range from 1.5 to 8.0 tonnes comes with powerful and reliable Toyota industrial engines delivering unmatched power and stability.
Blog posts about energy
Visit our online shop
Find product information and buy our range of Hand Pallet Trucks, Powered Pallet Trucks and Stackers online.
Lithium-Ion solutions from Toyota
Maintenance-free batteries that make it possible for your trucks to run around the clock. Learn more about our lithium-ion batteries as the power source for your next Toyota truck.
Fuel cell technology
Combine the sustainability of an electric truck with the practicality and short refuelling time of an internal combustion engine.
Our sustainability approach
We have aligned the structure of our 2023 reporting on sustainability to the new ESRS framework ahead of the EU requirements being phased in and set our new 10-year targets.