An advanced battery management system
that manages change and charge operations
for warehouse truck batteries has been
installed by Ventura Network Distribution at
its massive distribution centre at Wath on
Dearne. It is designed to optimise performance
of Ventura’s warehouse truck fleet over a 5-
year contract, minimising energy
consumption and providing flexibility.

The fleet includes powered pallet trucks,
counter-balance trucks, reach trucks and
VNA trucks supplied by Crown. The lift
truck supplier worked with Ventura and
EnerSys to agree the final specification for
the battery management system.

Separate charge and change areas are sited
close to where specific types of truck operate.

The battery area for 40 order picking trucks,
for example, is on the mezzanine of the
picking and order assembly warehouse.

EnerSys supplied 80 Perfect Plus batteries
which offer extended work cycles between
charges for the order pickers. Charging is
achieved using Powertech high frequency
chargers which are said to be up to 20%
more efficient than traditional 50Hz units.

Powertech automatically detects the battery’s
level of discharge and supplies only the
amount of power needed to restore full charge.

Less power is required to charge a battery
with significant savings in electricity costs.

At any time 40 batteries are being charged
at a bank of 42 charging stations. A large
overhead screen indicates the position and
identity of the next available unit, ensuring
batteries are allocated in strict rotation.