BYD Electric Forklift helps Hitachi Group achieve carbon neutrality

Hitachi GLS, the home appliance unit of Hitachi Group, introduced its first BYD forklift truck to the Hitachi GLS Taiga plant in Hitachi-city, Ibaraki Prefecture, on March 1

Hitachi GLS, the home appliance unit of Hitachi Group, introduced its first BYD forklift truck to the Hitachi GLS Taiga plant in Hitachi-city, Ibaraki Prefecture, on March 1

 As one of the world's leading companies, Hitachi Group is striving to make its offices and manufacturing activities carbon neutral by 2030. Hitachi GLS, which mainly operates Hitachi Group's home appliances and air conditioning businesses, is actively promoting various decarbonization activities. For example, in July 2022, the Tochigi plant began to operate solar power facilities; in October 2022, the headquarters switched to renewable energy electricity; in March 2023, the Taiga Plant (mainly engaged in the research and development and manufacturing of washing machines and vacuum cleaners) introduced the first BYD 2.5-ton electric forklift truck.

On the opening day of the operation, Hitachi announced on its website that it will gradually introduce electric forklifts to replace existing gasoline forklifts at its Tochigi plant as well as its Taiga plant, which is a development and production base for refrigerated trucks. By replacing them with electric forklifts, the company is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 520 tons per year.

Byd's lithium-battery electric forklift does not emit carbon dioxide or any other exhaust during operation and charging, so it is not only environmentally friendly, but also provides a clean working environment for employees. In addition,  it supports fast charging, which greatly reduces the charging time compared with lead-acid battery forklifts, and doesn’t require daily maintenance such as water refill and battery cleaning, thus improving operation efficiency. Since BYD launched lithium battery forklifts, it has sold its products to about 30 countries and regions around the world.

Byd started selling lithium battery forklifts in Japan in 2015 and has so far delivered about 500 units (as of March 1, 2023) to the logistics, machinery, manufacturing and food industries. Users are Hitachi, NTT, Suntory beer and other well-known enterprises. Byd Forklift Japan will continue to support Hitachi GLS to achieve carbon neutrality and promote environmentally friendly electric forklifts in Japan, contributing to the Japanese government's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality in society.