18.02.2019

Lithium option for Genie scissors

Genie will announce the availability of a lithium ion battery pack option for its slab electric scissor lift range at the ARA Show later today.

The new lithium battery pack is fully compatible with the Delta-Q charger, the Genie Lift Connect telematics and Genie Tech Pro Link device connections.

The company cites, faster, more efficient charging to 100 percent capacity, longer overall life, minimal maintenance, superior cold weather performance and the fact that they maintain their full charge when not in use as the benefits of the new lithium battery option. It added that battery life/run time between charges will not be significantly different to the current lead acid battery pack.
Please register to see all images

The new Genie lithium ion battery

Product manager Mike Flanagan said: “The new Genie lithium ion battery option is made up of a Lithium Iron Phosphate mixture, a proven battery chemistry well suited for the performance required in demanding rental applications and jobsite environments. To further enhance their performance, we have incorporated battery heaters into the design of this new option to enable the battery to provide reliable, consistent operation in temperatures down to -29 degrees Celsius.”

No further details - such as how many batteries are fitted, what sort of additional operating time is available between charges or what it might cost etc. - have been given, but the show opens in a couple of hours and we will be there of course – check the Twitter feed further down the home page or any updates.
Please register to see all images

Genie slab scissor lifts will now be available with lithium ion batteries

Other new products at the show will include the new 13ft GS1330 micro scissor shown at Bauma China See 13ft Genie micro scissor, the new S-40XC and S-45XC boom lifts, More Genie XC booms the Genie Lift Guard Contact Alarm for scissor lifts that was seen in concept form at Vertikal Days last year and the new telematics system. Lift Connect
Please register to see all images

The Genie Lift Guard Contact Alarm in action

Vertikal Comment

It has been astonishing how lithium ion batteries for small scissor and boom lifts have gone from being an expensive pipe dream of the distant future to reality in less than 18 months. The driving force can arguably be put down to the decision by Dutch start up company Hoogwerkt to place an initial order for 420 slab scissor lifts - but only if they had lithium ion battery packs.

JCB - also a start up in the access market - stepped in and scooped the deal, while Niftylift took the boom order. It will be interesting to see the installation itself and also to get a feel for the additional cost. But it looks as if the lithium battery has firmly arrived in the scissor lift market.