Forklifts are an essential part of any working warehouse. It’s not uncommon for many warehouses to have large fleets of forklifts to keep up with customer demands. However, if your forklift batteries are not up to par, then keeping up with the ever-constant challenge of satisfying customers will be even more difficult.
Though buying new motive power equipment can break a budget, there are other alternatives to making expensive investments in new battery equipment. Industrial batteries can either be rented or bought used, at significantly reduced rates than if bought brand new. If you’re considering these options, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing to rent or buy used forklift batteries:
The 3 Major Benefits of Forklift Battery Rentals
There are many benefits of renting forklift batteries—here are a few key ones.
1. The Ability to Scale the Amount of Forklift Batteries in Your Fleet Based on Seasonal Demand
By renting forklift batteries, you are able to scale the number of batteries in your fleet up and down based on seasonal demand. For example, by renting extra forklift batteries when you’re busier, you can satisfy your short-term or seasonal needs—without having to spend the extra money to buy forklift batteries for only a temporary spike in demand. Using forklift battery rentals allows your industrial warehouse to keep up with the demands of its customers, but also increase warehouse space and decrease warehouse costs in the quieter seasons. Otherwise, those extra forklift batteries you bought for a temporary need will need to be stored until the next busy season, taking up valuable space where inventory could be placed, leading to increased warehouse costs.
Plus, using forklift battery rentals for seasonal demands can be especially useful for the upcoming holiday season! The holiday months are commonly the busiest for many businesses. With the increased shipping demands associated with the holidays and more customers to satisfy, your warehouse needs to be optimized to take on the crazy holiday season—and leveraging industrial battery rentals or used forklift batteries can help.
2. Improve Sustainability and Reduce Your Environmental Impact
An increasingly larger amount of businesses are going green due to shifting consumer preferences. You can align and steer your warehouse in a more environmentally friendly direction by choosing used forklift batteries instead of buying brand new industrial batteries. Less waste and less pollution overall minimizes both your warehouse’s carbon footprint and the effect your business has on the environment.
Why else should your warehouse work towards becoming more sustainable overall? More and more consumers are being attracted to environmentally friendly businesses. A recent study on corporate social responsibility found that 87% of customers have a more positive view of a company that supports sustainable practices. So, besides the fact that buying new forklift batteries is more expensive overall, choosing used forklift batteries also helps to drive a more positive brand reputation for your business and help attract even more customers—meaning more revenue and less waste.
3. Overcome Tight Budget Constraints
Using forklift battery rentals is much less expensive than buying brand new forklift batteries. By using rentals, you aren’t paying for more forklift batteries than you need. For example, if you have an exponential increase in shipments because of the holiday season, you can rent extra forklift batteries and then return them once the holidays are over and the busy season subsides.
Rental forklift batteries are also overall cheaper than brand new batteries, depending on the type of forklift battery you need. In the case of a waterless or powerline battery, for example, a new forklift battery price could extend between $5,000-$7,000. In comparison, forklift battery rental rates per month can range between $200-$600. Or, for example, the forklift battery price of a new stock picker battery (Battery Model 12-125F-15) averages around $5,040. With a month rental cost of $298, it would take more than 16 months for the forklift battery rental rates to match the new battery cost. Depending on what your warehouse needs, used motive power equipment may also rented on a per-week, per-month, per-quarter, or per-annum basis. The money saved from choosing used forklift batteries can also be used elsewhere, for example, making equipment repairs, purchasing additional inventory, or expanding your warehouse storage space.
What to Look for in a Forklift Battery Rental Program
When selecting a forklift battery rental program, make sure to look for quality, reliability and great customer service. Quality is very essential when looking for a rental battery program. If you’re going to go for a more cost-effective option, you want to make sure you aren’t sacrificing quality!
It’s also important to keep in mind that many warehouse assets, including electric forklift batteries, have a limited life span. The average lifespan of electric forklift batteries is 4-5 years before replacement is typically necessary. Even before then, forklift operators may notice their forklift batteries are not holding a charge as long as they used to.
So, it would be beneficial to find a forklift battery rental program, such as SSE’s, that offer a “Three Years and Out” lease. After three years of use, SSE replaces the forklift batteries with new ones. By periodically switching out assets, such as forklift batteries, you can reduce warehouse costs that are associated with end-of-life battery equipment.
Warranties are also crucial in a forklift battery rental program. You want to make sure you are paying for reliable equipment. Even if the equipment is cheaper, costs can accumulate more over time because of failures and frequent replacements. Used equipment also can carry over warranties as well. For instance, Southern States Motive Power (SSMP) offers a warranty that covers defects in forklift batteries left over from their refurbishment.
Where to Find the Best Forklift Battery Rentals
Wondering what the next step is to find the right forklift battery rental program for your business? SSE can help your industrial warehouse meet its expectations and reduce warehouse costs. We use only the highest quality forklift batteries in our rental program and have an excellent, personalized customer service team.
Whether your warehouse is looking for new, used, or rental industrial batteries or other motive power battery charger options, we’re sure to fit any criteria of your warehouse’s operational needs. For more information, contact us or check out our catalog for more motive power equipment options!
