V-Force Energy Solutions - Flipbook - Page 24
efficiency technology. For instance, Crown’s
V-Force Demand Response Management
(DRM) system allows a group of chargers
to work together to reduce their combined
energy demands, thereby lowering energy
and infrastructure costs. The DRM responds
to signals a utility-supplied device provides
to help the charger group maximize
productivity while not overloading the
supply. It limits its collective load to meet
a target and reduces collective energy
consumption at peak times when spot
energy pricing may be higher.
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They should also be informed and trained
on any new best practices or procedures
related to your battery management or
energy strategy.
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Your battery strategy and best practices
should never be static. They should evolve
and change along with your operational
needs, forklift fleet and overall energy
strategy. It is essential to continually
monitor and understand your fleet and plan
accordingly to meet its current and future
power requirements. A good forklift fleet
management system will help you uncover
the wealth of data trucks can collect, which
can be combined with data and insight
gathered from a power study. Armed with
this information, you can make informed
decisions about the number and type
of batteries you need, energy efficiency
opportunities and possible enhancements
to your charging infrastructure.
MAKE SURE YOUR OPERATORS ARE
PROPERLY TRAINED
When it comes to effectively managing
your power usage and maintaining a strong
energy strategy, your operators are just as
important as the wealth of data and new
technologies available in today’s batteries.
For instance, operators are responsible
for conducting pre-shift inspections
and visually identifying any safety or
performance concerns before they become
a more significant issue that could result
in downtime. These inspections are an
essential part of assessing battery and
forklift mechanical health. Operators must
have appropriate training to properly
conduct these inspections, maintain and
charge batteries and recognize any issues.
CONTINUALLY REVISIT YOUR BATTERY
DECISIONS AND BEST PRACTICES
In Chapter Five, we’ll discuss factors that can
help evolve your energy strategy, including
charging methods and cable management.
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