Toyota Material Handling (UK) has published its Trends in Logistics 2024 report, highlighting a significant challenge for the logistics sector: energy storage. As fossil fuels are being phased out and the electrification of transportation and materials handling fleets accelerates, effective energy storage solutions are critical for supply chain companies.
The report emphasizes that high-capacity batteries will play a crucial role in shaping the UK’s future energy landscape. According to Toyota, these batteries may need to store enough energy to power entire industrial sites or even large urban areas.
Gary Ison, Toyota Material Handling’s product development manager, stated, “High-capacity batteries are set to become integral to our energy infrastructure. Manufacturers are racing to create batteries that not only power electric vehicles, like forklifts, for extended periods with minimal recharging but also store energy generated from renewable sources like solar and wind. This will ensure a stable electricity supply even when these sources are inactive.”
The report notes that advancements in battery technology, including silicone, graphene, and sodium batteries, are promising. There is growing optimism surrounding solid-state batteries, which could have a positive long-term impact. However, their high production costs and complexity mean widespread adoption is still some time away.
Additionally, the report reveals an increasing interest among operators of large materials handling fleets in alternative fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and hydrogen technology. Ison remarked, “For forklift users with on-site hydrogen supplies, fuel cells can be refueled in minutes, enabling emission-free operations.”
The transition to sustainable energy sources is a pressing issue for the supply chain sector. While the shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles is well underway, concerns about grid capacity and the availability of renewable energy still persist. These issues are causing some companies to hesitate in investing in new technologies, potentially jeopardizing the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
Link: https://toyota-forklifts.co.uk/about-toyota/trend-report/