Differences in Charging Piles Between Latent AGVs and Forklift AGVs

In logistics automation scenarios, charging piles, serving as the ‘energy hub’ for the continuous operation of AGVs, must be designed to match the equipment's characteristics in depth.

Due to the different application scenarios, body structures and operating strengths of latent AGVs and forklift AGVs, there are significant differences between charging piles in terms of installation methods, charging efficiency and adaptability. The following analysis of the differences between the two, based on core dimensions, provides a reference for enterprise selection.

1. Installation Scene

Latent AGV body is low (usually less than 30cm), mostly in the narrow aisle, the bottom of the shelf and other narrow space operation, so the charging pile needs to meet the requirements of ‘does not occupy the channel, does not impede the handling’, the ground embedded charging pile has become the mainstream choice - installation When the charging module is embedded in the ground, only the charging pole piece docked with the AGV is exposed, and the vehicle drives into the charging area automatically through the preset path without manual intervention. This design is especially suitable for ‘goods-to-person’ picking scenarios in e-commerce warehouses, avoiding collisions between charging piles and shelves and material pallets.

Forklift AGV needs to lift the goods, the body is high, and the operation range is mostly an open area (such as the main warehouse road, loading and unloading area). The charging pile mostly adopts the column type or the floor type. This kind of charging post is installed next to the channel or corner, with a telescopic charging plug and forklift docking. Some models support forklifts automatically complete the plug docking when docking, to adapt to the high frequency of forklift operation rhythm, to and from the platform and shelving area.

2. Charging Efficiency

 The operation of latent AGVs is characterised by ‘high frequency and short distance’ (e.g. shelf transfer in e-commerce warehouses), and the single endurance demand is usually 4-6 hours, so the charging pile focuses on fast charging to replenish energy - adopting 24V/48V low-voltage fast charging technology, which can replenish 80% of the power in 15-30 minutes. The charging pile focuses on fast charging - using 24V/48V low-voltage fast-charging technology, it can replenish 80% of the power in 15-30 minutes, and together with the central scheduling system, charging can be completed automatically between tasks (e.g., when shelves are waiting to be picked) without special downtime.

Forklift AGVs need to carry heavy goods and consume more energy, with a single range of 8-12 hours. Charging piles, therefore, focus on large-capacity slow charging - using 48V/72V high-voltage systems, which take 1-2 hours to fully charge, but have long-lasting range and are suitable for manufacturing workshops with a ‘two-shift’ continuous operation mode. It is suitable for a manufacturing workshop's two-shift continuous operation mode. Part of the forklift AGV charging pile also supports the ‘power exchange mode’, through which the spare battery pack quickly replace the lost battery of the car, to solve the heavy-duty operating scenarios under the pain of downtime.

3. Adaptability Design

Due to the many brands and models of latent AGVs, charging piles need to be universal, through adjustable charging pole spacing, multi-voltage adaptation (24V/48V/72V), and compatible with different manufacturers' equipment.

Forklift AGV charging piles place more emphasis on customisation, as the charging interfaces and voltage standards of forklift brands vary greatly, and plug specifications and communication protocols need to be customised according to specific models.

4. Intelligent Management

Latent AGVs are mostly operated in clusters, and the charging piles need to be connected to the central energy management system, which monitors the power status of each AGV in real time, and automatically schedules the charging of low-power vehicles as a priority, to avoid the efficiency of clusters dropping due to the lack of power. The system can also optimise the charging time (e.g. replenish energy during off-peak hours) through data analysis to reduce the power load of the factory.

Forklift AGVs have a wide operating range and relatively independent scheduling, so the intelligent management of charging piles focuses more on single-unit monitoring and control through the IoT module to remotely warn of battery failures and remind operation and maintenance personnel to maintain them promptly. Some high-end models also support a mobile phone APP to view charging records, which is suitable for the management needs of forklift trucks operating across multiple warehouses.

總結

When choosing a latent AGV or forklift AGV charging pile, you need to stick to three major principles:

1. Scene fit: narrow space choose embedded, open area choose column type;
2. Matching efficiency: high-frequency operation, priority fast charging, long-range demand focus on slow charging or power exchange;
3. Cost balance: choose the universal type for multi-brand mixing, and customisation of a single model is more economical.

As a company specialising in intelligent logistics solutions, AiTEN Robotics has consistently focused on the ‘smart factory’ scenario, deeply integrating technological innovation with industry needs. It has provided comprehensive services to over 200 manufacturing clients worldwide: Leveraging a full range of material handling robot product portfolios to cover diverse material handling scenarios, we have developed an industry-grade intelligent scheduling system to enable efficient collaboration among multiple devices. Through a comprehensive lifecycle service system spanning pre-sales planning, deployment and implementation to operations optimisation, we empower enterprises to achieve logistics intelligence transformation, continuously driving the digital upgrading and high-quality development of the manufacturing industry.