Logistics companies are resorting to LPG-powered handling equipment! Even hydrogen trucks have their place

With the price of electricity rising, companies are turning to alternative fuels. The most proven fuel for trucks is LPG, for example, while hydrogen-powered equipment is also gaining ground.

However, there is also greater interest in LPG-powered material handling equipment.

A recently published study Trends in Czech Logistics 2022conducted this year by Ipsos for the Association of Competent Logistics and Suppliers (WAREHOUSE), highlights the current situation on the Czech logistics market. This is adversely affected by a combination of the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war conflict in Ukraine and its economic consequences. Examples are the general shortage of warehouse technology or equipment and long delivery times with significant price instability.

"We are experiencing a slight drop in demand, but more fundamental for us are the problems related to the delivery time of some spare parts or their complete unavailability. Also, of course, the pricing of orders is becoming more complicated due to price instability. Prices for parts and new equipment change unpredictably. There have been major problems in arranging container shipping of new equipment from our supplier in China," said Hana Křiváková from VIVA - Manipulation Technology.

The pandemic has caused significant disruption to supply chains. Companies with key suppliers in Asia are still dealing with the consequences due to China's zero-tolerance policy. "Take batteries in warehouse trucks, for example. When you break a particular kind, it can take two to three months to deliver because there are no raw materials for production," says Jiří Trousil, logistics director at Madeta, in the aforementioned study. "We have learned to put lithium batteries in the trucks, but they are not available today. We are replacing them with lead-acid batteries again," added Jiří Trousil.

However, Václav Jung, project and product manager of STILL ČR, one of the world's leading suppliers of handling equipment, points out that the current market situation, i.e. the development of fuel prices, the Green Deal, etc., favours further expansion of electric trolleys. "With electric trolleys, we are not just talking about trolleys with a conventional lead-acid battery or the currently trending Li-Ion technology. Increasingly, customers are also becoming interested in other modern power sources such as hydrogen fuel cells." said Václav Jung.

Increased interest in electrically powered material handling equipment is also evident according to VIVA - handling technology. However, there is also more interest in LPG-powered material handling equipment, due to stricter requirements for occupational hygiene and higher demands on emission standards. "However, despite all this, from our point of view, the greatest demand is still for conventional diesel forklifts," Hana Křiváková pointed out.

The importance of LPG propulsion in handling equipment lies mainly in the versatility of use

The importance of LPG propulsion in handling equipment lies mainly in the versatility of use for outdoor and indoor operation. LPG, or pure propane, is mostly supplied in modern cylinders made of composite material, which is lightweight and very durable. Changing the cylinder is thus quick, physically easy and there is no unnecessary downtime as when recharging batteries. In addition, according to the Propane Education & Research Council, a propane cylinder lasts three times longer than a battery.

According to Primagas, a company that supplies companies with clean propane to power material handling equipment, many companies with both electric and gas trucks now prefer to use LPG, given today's electricity prices. "The economics of operation, thanks to the relatively stable price of propane, often now speak strongly in favour of LPG. Although electrification is an undeniable trend, we record a minimum of customers switching from LPG to electricity at this time," said Jiří Karlík, CEO of Primagas.

In addition, for larger companies or distribution centres, LPG operating costs can be further reduced by building an internal filling station. Propane suppliers also allow price fixing up to 2 years in advance, which can help bridge the current period of uncertainty. Whether propane cylinders or an in-house filling station is still worthwhile is, of course, very individual depending on the type of equipment used or the intensity of its use. "In our experience, an in-house LPG filling station can make sense for a company with five or more gas forklifts in daily operation. This usually corresponds to a monthly consumption of 1.5 tonnes of propane, i.e. 150 ten-kilogram cylinders," added Jiří Karlík.