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THE BYD FORKLIFT STORY

A battery company.
A different kind
of forklift.

From storing energy to moving industry. Discover the thinking behind BYD Material Handling.

Explore our story
BYD electric counterbalance forklift working in a warehouse
BATTERY ROOTS. ELECTRIC AMBITION.
01 / WHERE IT STARTED

Better energy.
New possibilities.

A forklift is only one part of the working day. The energy behind it matters just as much.

BYD’s material handling story grows from its battery business. That perspective puts the truck, battery, and charger in the same conversation: how they work together, how charging fits into a shift, and how the equipment serves the operation.

The result is an approach built around the complete system. Start with the work to be done. Choose the equipment. Then match the battery and charging plan to the way your business moves.

02 / THE JOURNEY

The milestones
that moved us.

From a battery manufacturer to an international material handling business.

  1. THE FOUNDATION

    Our battery beginnings

    BYD starts as a battery manufacturer in Shenzhen, China. Energy storage is the foundation of the company’s story.

  2. BEYOND BORDERS

    An international outlook

    BYD opens its first European subsidiary, taking an early step beyond its home market.

    Robotic arm working on an automated battery production line
    1998BEYOND BORDERS
  3. ELECTRIC MATERIAL HANDLING

    A new direction for forklifts

    BYD enters the forklift industry, bringing lithium iron phosphate battery technology to material handling.

    BYD blue and black electric counterbalance forklift in a bright white showroom
    2010ELECTRIC MATERIAL HANDLING
  4. FROM TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCTION

    Building manufacturing capability

    The opening of BYD’s Shaoguan Industrial Park showcases an assembly line for its iron phosphate battery forklifts.

    BYD office building with red roofline trim and blue window frames at dusk Rows of BYD electric forklifts on the assembly line, with an ISO 9001:2015 certified company seal
    2014FROM TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCTION
  5. NEW MARKETS

    Reaching Japan

    Forklift sales begin in Japan as BYD develops its international material handling business.

    Two BYD electric forklifts parked in front of a BYD “Build Your Dreams” showroom
    2015NEW MARKETS
  6. MARKET ENTRY & RECOGNITION

    A North American chapter

    BYD begins selling battery electric forklifts in the United States. The same year, BYD receives an International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) award at CeMAT.

    The BYD team celebrating the IFOY award on stage at CeMAT Hannover, May 31, 2016 Visitors exploring BYD electric stackers and pallet trucks at the BYD Forklift trade show booth
    2016MARKET ENTRY & RECOGNITION
  7. CLOSER TO CUSTOMERS

    A home for local support

    A 50,000-square-foot forklift center opens in Rancho Dominguez, California, with space for equipment, parts, demonstrations, and training.

    BYD Forklift building at the Dominguez Technology Center in California, with BYD and American flags
    2020CLOSER TO CUSTOMERS
03 / ENGINEERED TOGETHER

Three essentials.
One BYD system.

BYD manufactures the forklift, battery, and charger. That integration shapes the entire equipment experience.

BYD electric counterbalance forklift
01 / THE TRUCK

Built around the job.

Counterbalance forklifts, cushion tire models, pallet trucks, and tow tractors help address different material handling tasks.

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BYD lithium iron phosphate battery technology
02 / THE BATTERY

The power at the center.

Lithium iron phosphate technology supports electric operation without the watering and equalization routines of flooded lead-acid batteries.

Meet the technology
BYD forklift charging equipment
03 / THE CHARGER

A plan for every shift.

Match charging equipment to the battery, available electrical supply, and the opportunities to recharge during your working day.

Discuss your operation
04 / THE ELECTRIC DIFFERENCE

A different approach
to the working day.

Understand what changes when battery electric equipment becomes part of your operation.

Less battery upkeep.

Eliminate routine battery watering and lead-acid equalization. The forklift, connectors, and charging equipment still need the inspections and maintenance specified for the model.

Make breaks count.

Opportunity charging can put planned breaks to work. Available runtime depends on the application, battery condition, temperature, and the selected charger.

Electric at the point of use.

Battery electric drive produces no engine exhaust during operation. It also changes the noise and vibration experience compared with internal combustion equipment.

CHARGING THAT FITS THE APPLICATION

Start with the shift, then choose the charger.

BYD has offered 110-volt charging for selected lower-utilization applications. Your dealer can confirm current compatibility and whether overnight or opportunity charging suits the duty cycle. Follow the battery and charger instructions, including operating and charging temperature limits.

Explore charging
BYD’s Rancho Dominguez forklift center, shown in the company’s 2020 milestone photographyRANCHO DOMINGUEZ, CALIFORNIA / 2020
05 / A NORTH AMERICAN CONNECTION

Global technology.
Local relationships.

The Rancho Dominguez center marked an investment in bringing equipment, parts, demonstrations, and training closer to North American customers.

Your local dealer is the connection between that technology and your business: equipment selection, parts identification, service, and the practical questions that come with a working fleet.

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THE NEXT CHAPTER IS YOURS

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