Godrej & Boyce begins Electric Forklift Technology in India
Innovation is in the DNA at Godrej & Boyce, a flagship company of the Godrej Group. The business unit has yet again demonstrated this by unveiling today an industry first in India: a Li-ion battery-powered forklift, coupled with an indigenously developed state-of-the-art Battery Management System. As the first of its kind solution to be made available in the Indian market, Godrej & Boyce is taking a critical need and a gap in the market and turning it into reality with this development. However, this development will ensure a self-reliant and secured Li-Ion battery system for Godrej & Boyce customers.
Li-Ion Batteries: A Game-Changer for Material Handling
Li-ion technology brings quantum changes in material handling operations. Contrasted with traditional lead-acid batteries, Li-ion batteries are able to run for 4 times longer, which lessens the investment associated with long-term battery replacement costs. Li-ion also provides strong durability by running 5,000 charge cycles compared to lead-acid’s 1,200.
Li-ion batteries will support opportunity charging, maximizing uptime. Zero-emission charging to drive a cleaner environment; reduced maintenance, resulting in decreased operational costs: 2.5 hours to charge from 20% to 80% with Li-ion, against 6 hours for lead acid, while consuming 30% less energy.
Li-ion batteries deliver 15% more runtime for 2 and 3 ton forklifts. Modular design allows it to scale up—the technology is flexible, catering to a host of requirements. Godrej & Boyce is eyeing to extend the technology to other material handling equipment, benefiting the automotive, FMCG, consumer durables, retail—in particular, e-commerce—pharmaceutical, and leading manufacturing sectors.
Godrej Unveils ‘Make in India’ Lithium-Ion Forklift
“India’s logistics sector is at a pivotal juncture, experiencing robust growth driven by infrastructure advancements across sectors such as automotive, FMCG, consumer durables, retail including e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, fueled by rising consumer demand. At Godrej & Boyce, we are committed to ‘Make in India’ strategies, playing a vital role in driving this growth. Our focus on integrating cutting-edge, technology- enabled solutions remains a key priority, addressing the complex challenges of modern supply chains. These innovations are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the sector’s continued evolution. The future of India’s logistics will be shaped by this commitment to nation building and innovation, securing a more resilient and adaptive industry.”
Anil Verma, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Godrej & Boyce“We are delighted to introduce our Li-ion powered forklift trucks featuring indigenously developed Battery Management System. This launch underscores our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and building self-reliant capabilities in critical technologies for the material handling industry. By leveraging our engineering expertise, we have created a solution that enhances safety, and optimizes performance. We believe this is the start of a transformative journey that will revolutionize material handling and inspire industries nationwide to reimagine what’s possible when we commit to self-reliance.“
Anil Lingayat, a senior executive at Godrej & Boyce,
