For any business running a material handling operation, switching to a fully-electric forklift fleet by 2030 is inevitable. However, without a clear plan in place, how do you know which steps to take to get there? Having an electrification roadmap is crucial.
As an operations manager, planning your electrification journey may seem daunting at first. After all, with so many different factors to consider, ranging from upgrading your material handling equipment and operational facilities to revising operator shift patterns, it can be difficult to know where to start.
However, by implementing an electrification roadmap to help you on your journey, this needn’t be the case.
Read on to learn more about the key components of an electrification roadmap, how to get started, and the key considerations you need to make when transitioning to an electric fleet.
Download our electrification readiness checklist to see the steps you need to take to prepare.
What does an electrification roadmap look like?
Put simply, an electrification roadmap is a company-wide strategy that outlines your business’ sustainability goals (i.e. to be operating a fully-electrified fleet by 2030 — if not before), as well as the steps you need to take to get there.
Distributed to your entire business, but particularly those who are directly involved in your material handling operation, your roadmap should also detail why the business wants to achieve the goals set out, e.g. to become more sustainable and meet EU Stage V directives.
In addition to the ‘what’ and the ‘why’, your electrification roadmap should, most crucially, address the ‘how’. In other words, what are the steps your business needs to take to reach its ambitious goals?
Factors you may want to consider include:
- How your business is going to upgrade its current ICE equipment (timeline, cost, etc.)
- Whether your current operating environment could fit a dedicated charging station
- How you could alter existing operator shift patterns to accommodate charging time
- How your business is going to upgrade its current ICE equipment (timeline, cost, etc.)
- Whether your current operating environment could fit a dedicated charging station
- How you could alter existing operator shift patterns to accommodate charging time
Breaking your business goals down into manageable steps is an impactful way to get started and mitigate the feeling of being overwhelmed.
For example, adopting a staggered, tiered approach to upgrading your current equipment is likely to be more manageable than a simple ‘rip and replace’ approach. It’s also likely to be less disruptive, more sustainable and more cost-effective for your business in the long run.
Related Read: Demystifying 2030: What the EU Stage V Emissions Regulations Could Mean for You
How your local TCM dealer can help
At TCM, we understand that electrification is a journey, not a destination. As such, we’re committed to helping you find ways to make your transition to an electric fleet easier through our cost-effective solutions and dedicated support.
Your business’ electrification roadmap will depend on a number of factors, including your company’s goals, timeline, budget, and fleet size — as well as the type of operation you’re running and the specific application.
By reaching out to your local TCM dealer, we can assess your operation in detail before recommending a truly tailored solution — as well as helping you outline your electrification roadmap.
Related Read: Investing in Electric Forklifts: The Ultimate Guide
Introducing our Electrification Readiness Checklist
While the ban on ICE trucks might seem a long way off, being ready for 2030 won’t happen overnight. With that in mind, we’ve created an Electrification Readiness Checklist to help your business plan and prepare for the future.
The checklist will help you to:
- Consider the most cost-effective forklift battery solution
- Assess the short vs. long-term business costs
- Determine how your business will adapt (electrification roadmap)
- Outline what you’ll need to set up a fit-for-purpose charging station
- Consider the safety precautions you’ll need to take
- Consider the most cost-effective forklift battery solution
- Assess the short vs. long-term business costs
- Determine how your business will adapt (electrification roadmap)
- Outline what you’ll need to set up a fit-for-purpose charging station
- Consider the safety precautions you’ll need to take
To find out more, download our Electrification Readiness Checklist today to start your electrification journey.
Have questions? Get in touch with your local TCM dealer, who’ll be happy to answer any queries you may have.
