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HS2 and fork lift trucks

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pdeaves

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A press release went out recently, copied on various industry news outlets (one example at http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com//HS2/hs2-trials-uks-first-electric-forklift-/257400), that opens with:
HS2 trials UK’s first electric forklift
In their efforts to lessen their carbon footprint and support the country’s green economic recovery, HS2 are trailing the UK’s first electric forklift on one of its major construction sites in London.
This appears to claim that electric fork lift trucks never previously existed in the UK until now on an HS2 construction site. This cannot be true. www.ecobatindustrial.tech claims to have supplied forklift batteries or 65 years; surely not stockpiled until someone invents a machine to put them in!

What does the HS2 press office really mean?
 
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py_megapixel

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Maybe they mean the first electric forklift on a construction site?

As far as I'm aware, warehouse forklifts have been electric for a long time. After all, diesel fumes indoors isn't a great idea.
 

Domh245

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They might mean first electric telehandler - 'forklift' is a fairly generic term that encompasses different types of vehicles such as reach-trucks and counterbalance, electric variants of these have existed for many decades. Dubious journalism!
 

jyte

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As someone who works events (or rather, used to...thanks to COVID) I've seen a 'triple man' boost to get a lighting fixture down when all the ladders were unavailable - H&S site manager said "provided I don't see them do it it's not a problem" which was an interesting interpretation of HSE...
 

Mojo

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But will they be recharged from diesel generators?
Indeed. I walked past a HS2 construction site near us and there is a diesel generator on the site belching out fumes, this is despite the fact that the unit is situated in an urban area with an electricity connection.
 

GRALISTAIR

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But will they be recharged from diesel generators?
Good point - I hope not as that kind of defeats the object.

EDIT - just seen this

Indeed. I walked past a HS2 construction site near us and there is a diesel generator on the site belching out fumes, this is despite the fact that the unit is situated in an urban area with an electricity connection.
 

Geeves

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One Euro 6 engine charging multiple electric vehicles is surely more green than multiple engines? As above it makes you wonder if they were serious why they didnt wire in a HV connection
 

mmh

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One Euro 6 engine charging multiple electric vehicles is surely more green than multiple engines? As above it makes you wonder if they were serious why they didnt wire in a HV connection

The EuroX categories are for cars and trucks. Generators are classed as NRMM (non-road mobile machinery) and have different standards. Regardless though, plugging electric plant as green then charging it by burning oil is greenwash of an impressive level!
 
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Speaking a former temporary site power tech, temporary sites usually need vastly different power supplies to what is available on site. They usually need them in different locations to where it would be needed for the finished building, often even moving frequently during the site, and varying spec as the build goes on. Wiring them to the mains supply is not an easy or sensible proposition.
The generators will be running 24/7 (or some of them) to power the site, whether or not they are charging a telehandler.

As a ticketed telehandler and forklift driver I’d like a go in an electric one, I think it being significantly quieter and not sitting in a hot cab surrounded by an engine would be even more beneficial than the environmentals!
 

furnessvale

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But will they be recharged from diesel generators?
I worked on many sites when I was younger and, without fail, if a hard wire electrical hook up was possible, it was connected. Diesel generators were the last option.
 
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