Jungheinrich Warehouse Forklift Dallas

Environmental Problems About Electric Forklift Batteries

The electric lift truck is generally considered more safe and stable than diesel and gas powered IC engines. Both gas and diesel engines pose a fire risk and emit harmful exhaust toxins. The electric forklift is not without is hazards though. They have rechargeable batteries as their power source, and batteries can present risks to personal safety as well as to the natural world. There are hazards connected with the storage, disposal, manufacture and use of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.



Manufacturing

The forklift battery consists of lead plates being placed in a sulfuric acid solution, that are called lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is toxic that, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to water quality because of runoff and drainage. Once lead enters a water system it can result in various types of health problems to living beings and can even be fatal. The sulfuric acid used in lift truck batteries is very harmful to skin and can result in severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces noxious fumes which could cause damage to both the environment and to humans.



Normal Storage and Use

Lead-acid batteries could produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct when recharging. When recharging batteries for a forklift or any other kinds of vehicle, smoking, sparks, heat and flames must be kept well away from the recharging place. The flammable hydrogen can cause an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.



Sulfuric acid in the batteries could lead to chemical burns if it touches the bare skin. This is not an issue during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is damaged or punctured, the acid could leak or spray, potentially burning anyone who is nearby.



Disposal

Improper disposal of lead-acid batteries should always be avoided. These batteries must be recycled correctly or reused in new batteries so that the sulfuric acid could either be recycled or neutralized. To avoid the serious environmental consequences of wrong disposal, all lead-acid batteries sold or bought within the U.S. include a "core charge" which would only be returned if the used battery is turned in.

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