Genie debuts Li-Ion battery option for select slabs

Genie has debuted a new Lithium-Ion battery option for GS E-Drive slab scissor lifts. Genie Lithium-Ion batteries have been specifically designed for MEWPs and are certified by the independent certification organization Underwriters Laboratory (UL) against fire, electric shock and explosion.

The Lithium-Ion battery option is available globally on nearly all GS E-Drive slab scissor lifts, with the exception of the GS-1432m and GS-1932m micro scissor lifts and the GS-4046 and GS-4655 slab scissor lifts. (Photo: Genie)

The zero-maintenance Genie Lithium-Ion battery’s fully-sealed IP67 housing protects it from water and dust contamination. Based on extensive testing, it has an expected lifespan of roughly 10 years and comes with a 5-year warranty.

“Today’s electrified equipment doesn’t just reduce emissions. In many cases, it also performs better and requires less maintenance. That said, battery maintenance and replacement is still one of the biggest ongoing expenses for scissor lift owners. Genie Lithium-Ion reduces those costs by eliminating battery maintenance and replacement. Purposefully designed for use in MEWPs, Genie Lithium-Ion is the only battery you’ll need for the normal life of your scissor lift,” said Christian Dube, Genie product manager.

Introduced in 2020, Genie E-Drive scissor lifts are already low-maintenance machines with brushless, fully sealed AC drive motors and 70 percent fewer hydraulic hoses and fittings. Genie’s E-Drive Lithium-Ion scissor lifts reduce maintenance costs by an additional 11 percent compared to flooded lead acid (FLA) batteries because the Lithium-Ion batteries do not need to be watered or replaced.

On the jobsite, E-Drive Lithium-Ion scissor lifts offer superior productivity and performance, even in extreme temperatures ranging between 120° F / 49° C to -20° F / -29° C.

The zero-maintenance Genie Lithium-Ion battery’s fully-sealed IP67 housing protects it from water and dust contamination. (Photo: Genie)

“When in use, electric machines with a standard FLA battery usually generate enough heat in the battery to continue working. However, most people aren’t continuously lifting or driving; they’re stopped and doing work, allowing the FLA batteries to cool. As the FLA battery gets colder, it delivers less energy, which means the operator needs to take a break and move the lift into a warmer environment,” Dube said. “Genie Lithium-Ion batteries have built-in heaters that maintain the proper temperature, even when the scissor lift is stationary. This allows the operator to work continuously, without taking a break to warm up the battery — a real productivity benefit in a cold environment.”

(Photo: Genie)

Genie GS E-Drive Lithium-Ion scissor lifts can be recharged in just four hours, which is 33 percent faster than a standard FLA battery, and partial charges won’t damage the Lithium-Ion battery. This allows operators to charge a lift during breaks or over lunch in the event the machine didn’t get charged the night before, or if it is being used for a second shift.

Speaking during the recent ALH Conference in Chicago, Genie’s Vice President of Engineering Mike Davis said,“Charging is the big challenge for construction equipment, and it’s the same with automobiles”, he said, “I want to put in a plug for hybrids. [With hybrids] the engine size is also smaller, so it’s a pretty good compromise.

“Hybrids are going to be an important part of the equation as we go through this transition. I think they are going to be around for a while.”

“Genie’s Lithium-Ion battery solution is UL certified against fire, electric shock and explosion. And, with an expected battery life of at least 10 years and a five-year warranty, equipment owners can feel confident in the battery’s quality and longevity,” Dube said. “Although this is the only battery a rental company will need while they own the machine, for additional peace of mind, owners can also use Genie LiftConnect telematics monitoring to track battery performance for a specific unit over time.”

Genie Lithium-Ion powered scissor lifts can be retrofitted with FLA batteries when the unit reaches the end of its useful life in a rental fleet.

(Photo: Genie)

The Lithium-Ion battery option is available globally on nearly all GS E-Drive slab scissor lifts, with the exception of the GS-1432m and GS-1932m micro scissor lifts and the GS-4046 and GS-4655 slab scissor lifts.

Hybrid still important for access says Genie’s Mike Davis Davis says challenges of charging infrastructure mean hybrid solutions will remain important