Environmental Problems Regarding Electric Lift Truck Batteries
The electric forklift is usually considered more safe and stable compared to diesel and gas powered IC engines. Both diesel and gas engines pose a fire risk and emit harmful exhaust toxins. The electric forklift is not without is hazards though. They have rechargeable batteries as their source of power, and batteries can present risks to the natural environment as well as to personal safety. There are hazards associated with the disposal, storage, manufacture and use of rechargeable batteries for lift trucks.
Manufacturing
Most lift truck batteries are made by placing lead plates into a sulfuric acid solution. These are referred to as lead-acid rechargeable batteries. Lead is a toxin which, when used in manufacturing processes, poses hazards to water quality because of drainage and runoff. When lead enters a water system it could cause various types of health issues to people and can even be fatal. The sulfuric acid used in forklift batteries is harmful to skin and could lead to severe burns. Sulfuric acid also produces toxic fumes which could cause damage to the natural world and to human beings.
Normal Use and Storage
When recharging, the lead-acid battery can produce hydrogen gas as a chemical byproduct. When recharging batteries for any kinds of vehicle or a lift truck, smoking, sparks, heat and flames must be kept well away from the recharging site. The flammable hydrogen can result in an explosion if ignited by flame or heat.
If it come into contact with bare skin, sulfuric acid in the batteries can lead to chemical burns. This is not an issue during normal use of the battery, but if a battery is damaged or punctured, the acid could leak or spray, potentially burning anybody who is nearby.
Disposal
Disposing of lead-acid batteries improperly must be avoided at all costs. The sulfuric acid could either be neutralized or recycled or can be reused in new batteries. To be able to avoid the serious environmental consequences of wrong disposal, all lead-acid batteries sold or bought in the U.S. include a "core charge" that would only be returned if the used battery is turned in.