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Linde Material Handling reaches milestone with electric forklift trucks – new generation ready to be launched on the market

The German industrial trade fair held in Hanover in March 1971 saw the beginning of what has developed into a 50-year success story: Back then, Linde Material Handling (Linde MH) presented its first electric forklift truck. Ever since, the intralogistics specialist has left its mark on electric mobility with numerous technical innovations, advancing to become the European market leader in the electric counterbalance truck segment. Now the next highlight is waiting in the wings: June will see the launch of a new truck generation that combines “the best of two worlds”, thereby putting the electric forklift on par with ICE powered trucks.

“Looking back, it was a decision that set the course for the future,” says Stefan Prokosch, Senior Vice President Brand Management Linde MH. “Today, we not only offer our customers a huge portfolio of electrically powered industrial trucks with a variety of energy storage systems, but we also use our expertise to electrify vehicles of all kinds – from hackney carriages to trolley cars.”

When the first Linde-branded electrically powered forklift truck was launched in the early 1970s, the enormous potential of electric mobility was not yet foreseeable. Development was primarily aimed at offering a vehicle for indoor applications. With the battery-powered forklift, Linde MH opened a new chapter in the company’s history, as the drive and energy storage system posed different technical challenges than its flagship: the Linde hydrostat. Highlights of the first electric series in the capacity range from 1 to 1.5 tons included the dual-motor front wheel drive, which enabled turning maneuvers on the smallest possible radius, and the twin-pedal control replicated from the hydrostat. This feature was designed to make it easier for operators to switch between the two types of drive. Over the following years, the demand for electrically powered forklifts increased steadily. This was because the number of warehouses and distribution centers kept growing – and with it the need for emission-free equipment. At the same time, the demands on these low-noise and emission-free indoor trucks increased: Customers wanted higher payloads, more handling capacity and a greater number of variants to cover ever new areas of application in industry and trade.

Compact axle as a milestone in e-truck development

The further development of power electronics and digital technology paved the way for the continued success of Linde MH’s electric forklifts. In 1999, the first model featuring a three-phase or asynchronous motor was added to the product portfolio. The engineers developed dedicated power and control modules for this new drive. This made it possible to combine the advantages of greater performance with a high level of reliability and the capability to handle demanding outdoor applications. Small and maintenance-free, the two drive motors together with the lifting hydraulics and all control components could be combined into a single assembly – the compact drive axle. Conductor rails replaced long cable lines and ensured lower energy consumption in the new Linde E14 to E20 models from 2006. For the first time, the vehicles also featured an on-board charger for flexible charging at power outlets, as well as overhead tilt cylinders for greater stability of the mast. Further features were added in 2010 with the 2- to 5-ton models, including the vibration-decoupled drive axle, the automatic handbrake, the digital battery charge indicator, and a traction control system for excellent ground grip. This met the needs of many customers and contributed in no small part to Linde MH becoming the market leader for electric counterbalance trucks in Europe.