Crown has launched its own V-Force batteries and chargers on the market. "V-Force lithium-ion batteries outperform lead-acid batteries by a factor of three in terms of service life and performance," explains Horst Kirsch, Senior Manager Product Marketing at Crown. "When discharging and charging the battery, better efficiencies and sustained high performance without voltage drop can be achieved. Intermediate charges, which can be carried out as often as required, increase the operating time so that the lithium-ion batteries can achieve significantly longer running times over a 24-hour period. They can therefore cope with one or more shifts without changing batteries."

Lithium-ion systems therefore offer advantages over lead-acid batteries, especially in multi-shift operation. Routine battery maintenance, battery changes and water filling are no longer necessary. Separate battery charging rooms are also no longer necessary, as the charging process is emission-free. In summary, both the higher efficiency of the batteries and their lower replacement and service costs lead to significant cost savings for the company over time.

The V-Force batteries also meet the requirements of the automotive industry with regard to maximum safety and user-friendliness. Thanks to their redundant safety systems, they have a multi-level safety architecture that includes, for example, various fuses as well as single-cell temperature and voltage monitoring. The battery's safety systems help to prevent damage caused by excessive temperature, short circuits, overcharging or deep discharge. Active protective functions also prevent application errors by the operator.

Crown's V-HFB series high-frequency chargers bring power to the lithium-ion energy storage system. The chargers with resonant frequency technology enable charging speeds of up to 1 C. Accordingly, batteries with capacities of up to 400 ampere hours are fully charged within 60 minutes at a constant charging current of up to 400 amperes.

Battery voltages from 24 to 80 volts can be charged. A CAN bus interface communicates directly with the battery management system to automatically detect the current voltage class and charge the battery without manual presettings. A touch display provides a clear overview of the operating status during the entire charging process. as