The Linde E-volution
Linde Material Handling has shaped electromobility with many technical innovations and is now the market leader in the electric counterbalanced truck segment in Europe. June will now see the launch of a new generation that combines "the best of both worlds". The goal is to make the electric truck and the combustion engine equal.
When the first electric forklift truck was presented at the German industrial trade show in March 1971, no one had any idea of the great potential of the electric-powered truck. Originally, the vehicle was designed to offer customers an alternative for enclosed halls. The highlights of the first electric series in the payload range from 1 to 1.5 tons included the two-motor front drive for turning maneuvers on the smallest radius as well as the double-pedal control known from the hydrostatic. The aim was to make it easier for the customer to switch between the two types of drive. With the increase in warehouses and distribution centers, the demand for emission-free forklifts also grew over time. At the same time, the demands placed on the machines by customers also increased: Higher payloads, more handling capacity and a greater number of variants were in demand.
Further successes were achieved through the further development of power electronics and digital technology. In 1999, Linde MH expanded its portfolio to include the first model with three-phase or asynchronous motors, for which proprietary power and control modules were developed. The advantages of higher performance could thus be combined with high reliability and demanding outdoor applications. Small and maintenance-free, the two traction motors together with the lifting hydraulics and all control components could be combined into a single assembly - the compact drive axle. The long cable lines were replaced by busbars, thus ensuring more economical energy consumption in the E14 to E20 models from 2006. Also new: an on-board charger for flexible charging at power outlets and a tilt cylinder that ensures greater stability of the mast. In 2010, the 2- to 5-ton models received a further update. These included the vibration-decoupled drive axle, the automatically engaging handbrake, the digital battery charge indicator and a traction control system for the best ground grip. With their innovations, Linde MH followed the needs of many customers, which in turn made them the European market leader in the field of electric counterbalanced trucks.
With every new forklift development, the focus has been on ergonomics and safety in addition to higher performance and economical energy consumption. Here, too, Linde MH continues to be one of the pioneers in the industry. Many equipment and performance features were world firsts at the time of their respective market launches and remain unique Linde features to this day. For example, the driver assistance system "Linde Safety Pilot"for example, limits the lifting height if the permissible load capacity is exceeded and regulates the travel speed in relation to the load being transported. Another example is the Linde Roadster. The vehicle design does without A-pillars, which improves visibility of the surroundings and ensures greater operational safety.
The introduction of lithium-ion technology as a new energy storage system and the development of the fuel cell with hydrogen as an energy source for industrial trucks have given electric forklifts a further boost over the past ten years. Further growth is promised by a new generation of Linde forklifts starting in June.
Experience the new e-forklift generation live
Are you interested in the new electric forklifts from Linde? Just be there live at the unveiling on June 16 at 11 am. The virtual, half-hour presentation will not only showcase the advantages of the new trucks in a vivid and varied way. The people behind the innovations will also have their say.