RE: (ET) Re: JohnDeereHybrid

["Markus Lorch" <mlorch vt edu>]

> 
> I've read that battery swapping has also been used successfully with 
> forklifts, though I haven't actually seen it in use.

I've worked for an electric fork-lift company and the batteries there
are typically on rollers, they can often be just pulled out on a stand 
next to the fork-lift or tractor that also is equipped with rollers. 
A charged battery can then be pushed back in the fork lift. This allows 
the change of (heavy) batteries without the use of a hoist. 
Here are pictures of one of the trucks the company I worked for 
manufactures
http://www.still-wagner.de/english/products/06c_index.htm and
here http://www.still-wagner.de/english/products/06c_4_index.htm. The
battery 
is behind the cab and mast and can be rolled out to the side (a single 
steel
case, prob. 3 feet high, 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep AND HEAVY) 

>From what I remember the batteries were typically large enough to cover a
single shift use with a single battery. Double or triple shift use required
the swapping of batteries. The batteries for fork lifts typically last 10 
years before they have to be replaces (less if quick charging is used for
"boost" charges)

One of the positive things about fork lifts and batteries is that fork 
lifts
require the weight that batteries provide anyhow. This is (to a lesser
degree)
also true for tractors. Fork lifts typically run on very smooth and strong
concrete floor, so moving a lot of weight is not as hard as out in the 
back 
yard.  

Markus