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Godrej launches India's first lithium-ion forklift

2024-08-23

As India accelerates its infrastructure development and seeks green energy solutions, Godrej & Boyce, a key player in the Godrej Enterprises Group, is once again at the forefront of innovation. The company’s Material Handling Business has unveiled a new line of lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts featuring a Battery Management System (BMS) developed entirely in India. This marks the first time an Indian manufacturer has introduced such a solution, addressing a crucial need for self-reliant and secure Li-Ion battery systems in the Indian material handling sector.

Lithium-ion technology offers significant advantages over traditional lead-acid batteries, including more than four times the lifespan. Li-ion batteries provide 5,000 charge cycles compared to 1,200 for lead-acid, translating to lower long-term costs. They also support opportunity charging, produce zero emissions during charging, and require less maintenance. Charging from 20% to 80% takes just 2.5 hours with Li-ion batteries, compared to 6 hours with lead-acid, and consumes 30% less energy. Additionally, Li-ion batteries deliver up to 15% more runtime for 2 to 3-tonne forklifts and feature a modular design for scalability. Godrej & Boyce intends to extend this technology to other material handling equipment, benefiting sectors such as automotive, FMCG, consumer durables, retail (including e-commerce), pharmaceuticals, and other major manufacturing industries.

Anil Verma, Executive Director & CEO of Godrej & Boyce, emphasized, “India’s logistics sector is at a transformative stage, driven by infrastructure advancements across various industries including automotive, FMCG, consumer durables, retail, and pharmaceuticals. At Godrej & Boyce, we are committed to ‘Make in India’ initiatives, playing a pivotal role in this growth. Our focus on cutting-edge, technology-driven solutions is essential for overcoming the complexities of modern supply chains. These innovations are critical for enhancing operational efficiency and advancing the sector. Our dedication to nation-building and innovation will shape the future of India’s logistics industry, making it more resilient and adaptable.”

Anil Lingayat, Executive Vice President & Business Head of the Material Handling Business at Godrej & Boyce, added, "We are excited to launch our Li-ion powered forklifts with an indigenously developed Battery Management System. This launch highlights our commitment to 'Make in India' and our efforts to build self-reliant capabilities in crucial technologies for material handling. Our engineering expertise has enabled us to develop a solution that improves safety and performance. We believe this is the beginning of a transformative journey that will revolutionize material handling and encourage industries nationwide to embrace self-reliance."

Developed in collaboration with Log9 Materials, the new battery systems incorporate lithium-ion cells with 30% localized production and a fully Indian-designed and manufactured Battery Management System. The company aims to achieve 100% localization of battery cells by next year.

Historically, the Indian market has relied heavily on imported batteries and BMS systems, primarily from China. Localizing this technology underscores Godrej & Boyce’s steadfast commitment to the "Make in India" vision and its dedication to building a resilient domestic supply chain.