July 5, 2018: Battery maker EnerSys has launched a wireless monitoring device that helps forklift truck operators reduce costs, the firm announced on July 3.
The Wi-iQ3 is the latest in the firm’s series of battery monitoring devices for motive power batteries, which enable electric warehouse vehicles to optimize battery management, reduce the number of battery recharges or changes and maximize each truck’s uptime and productivity.
“While retaining all these benefits, the new Wi-iQ3, in combination with the Xinx cloud-based battery operations management system, has evolved from a monitoring device into an active IoT gateway that gives users a deeper insight into their battery fleet and its status,” a company spokesperson said.
This step change has been facilitated partly by the latest sensor, communications and computer technology, but also by analytics software that presents real-time data to both truck drivers and managers in an easily understood and actionable form.
“Warehouse managers could reduce their battery fleet’stotal cost of ownership if only they had adequate and timely information. This can facilitate smarter and more effective utilization of battery fleets, less down-time for trucks, less time spent on battery changes and better asset management,” said OrjanEriksson, commercial application manager for monitoring and solutions,EnerSysEMEA.
“With its Bluetooth wireless networking capabilities, four times the memory capacity of Wi-iQ2 and our new Wi-iQ report suite software, the Wi-iQ3 delivers this information by making better use of available data.”
The software interprets and presents the data which, in combination with the Xinx cloud-based battery operations managementsystem,provideactionable recommendations forentire fleets orsingle batteriesin more detail.
The Wi-iQ3 can also become an active part of a fleet management system both through CANBUS ortheXinx EnerSyscloud-based battery operations management system,enablingusers toobtain enhanced information remotely.
An optional TruckiQdevice will show real time data for battery status, alarms, remaining autonomy and action required, all presented in a familiar smartphone format.
