BYD India Private Limited, has forayed into the material handling equipment (MHE) business in India, powered by a lithium-ion phosphate battery. The move comes on the back of the Indian warehousing and logistics sector expected to attract around USD10 billion investment over the next four-five years, and the modernisation, technological advancement and process optimisation of the warehousing sector will be the key driving force behind the growth of logistics sector, according to Ulhas Makeshwar, Head of BYD India MHE business.

BYD’s MHE products, adopt the company’s proprietary lithium-ion phosphate battery technology, which, unlike traditional lead-acid battery powered equipment, feature maintenance-free ‘One Battery for Life-time Operation’. This means that the battery can fulfill a life-long service reducing the cost of replacement or purchase. The company offers a range of MHE products for the Indian market including counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, electric stackers, BOPT, tow trucks and hand pallet trucks.

The MHE products from BYD uses components from global suppliers such as, KDS Motors, Zapi/Curtis controller and ZF drive axle. Makeshwar said that the product allows opportunity charging, customised configuration and great environmental benefit of minimal pollution, zero emissions and lower NVH levels. BYD established its own MHE R&D and manufacturing facility at Shaoguan, Guangdong, China in 2009. The facility has six assembly lines which produce electric forklifts, stackers, reach truck, battery operated pallet truck (BOPT) and tow trucks. Its annual production capacity is 30,000 units and it is expected to triple the growth in 2019.