In a significant stride towards sustainable industrial practices and self-reliance, Godrej & Boyce, a part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, has launched India’s first indigenous lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery-powered forklifts.
This pioneering innovation by the company’s material handling business marks a milestone in the Indian material handling sector, addressing the industry’s long-standing dependence on imported battery systems.
Pioneering localisation
The new forklifts come equipped with a state-of-the-art Battery Management System (BMS), developed in collaboration with Log9 Materials. This BMS, fully designed and manufactured in India, integrates Li-ion cells with 30 per cent localised production, a figure Godrej & Boyce plans to increase to 100 per cent by next year. The move is seen as a crucial step towards reducing India’s reliance on Chinese imports, aligning with the government’s “Make in India” initiative.
“India’s logistics sector is at a pivotal juncture, experiencing robust growth driven by infrastructure advancements across sectors such as automotive, FMCG, consumer durables, retail including e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, fuelled by rising consumer demand. At Godrej & Boyce, we are committed to ‘Make in India’ strategies, playing a vital role in driving this growth,” Anil Verma, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co., part of the Godrej Enterprises Group said.
He further said that the company’s focus is on integrating cutting-edge, technology-enabled solutions remains a key priority, addressing the complex challenges of modern supply chains. “These innovations are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the sector’s continued evolution. The future of India’s logistics will be shaped by this commitment to nation building and innovation, securing a more resilient and adaptive industry,” Verma added. Â
Green and efficient forklifts
Li-ion technology offers a range of benefits over traditional lead-acid batteries, boasting a battery life more than four times longer and the ability to deliver up to 5,000 charge cycles, compared to 1,200 cycles from lead-acid variants.
The new forklifts also feature reduced maintenance requirements, quicker charging times, and lower energy consumption, making them not only more efficient but also environmentally friendly. Charging from 20 per cent to 80 per cent takes just 2.5 hours, compared to 6 hours for lead-acid batteries, with a 30 per cent reduction in energy use.
Commenting on the development, Anil Lingayat, Executive Vice President & Business Head, Material Handling Business of Godrej & Boyce, said, “This launch underscores our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and building self-reliant capabilities in critical technologies for the material handling industry. By leveraging our engineering expertise, we have created a solution that enhances safety and optimises performance. We believe this is the start of a transformative journey that will revolutionise material handling and inspire industries nationwide to reimagine what’s possible when we commit to self-reliance.”
Catering to various sectors
The modular design of these forklifts allows for scalability, catering to a wide range of industries, including automotive, FMCG, retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and other major manufacturing sectors. Godrej & Boyce’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is evident in their plan to extend this advanced technology to other material handling equipment in the near future.
