Battery Power & Sharging

All of our vehicles are equipped with lithium iron phosphate battery technology (also referred to as LiFePO4 batteries).

 

This technology is the safest existing battery technology and SHOULD NOT be confused with lithium polymer, lithium cobalt or lithium magnesium battery technologies that can be unstable and hazardous to operate if not managed properly.

 

Unlike lead acid batteries, LiFePO4 batteries do not off gas during charge cycles. This eliminates the need to have special ventilation systems in place to deal with off gassing. LiFePO4 batteries are stable, easy to manage, require no maintenance and are a safe reliable energy storage device.

 

The battery module itself is made up of sealed battery cells that can be arranged to fit a variety of power requirements. The cells are not designed to be a user serviceable part and is sealed inside the Battery Module offering an additional, redundant level of operator and passenger safety.

 

The Battery Module is internally fused so that in the unlikely event of a short circuit, the fuse will open, safely isolating the power in the module. In this case the failed battery module would be swapped out for a new module and sent back to our facility for repair. This allows for the highest amount of safety for both operators and maintenance personnel and requires no special training or tools to replace a Battery Module.

 

BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS)

 

All Rokion R Series trucks are equipped with a sophisticated battery management system (or BMS). This system is responsible for monitoring and controlling all power systems to ensure the utmost level of operator safety is achieved. These systems are constantly monitoring the battery system to protect it from excess charge or discharge current or voltage that might unintentionally be applied

 

The BMS is responsible for monitoring the battery module voltages, currents, temperatures, state of charge, and states of health of each individual cell as well as the battery module as a whole. If safety limits are exceeded the BMS will shut down either the load or the battery charger, whichever is causing the condition. Temperature is monitored and the vehicle discharge or charge state is controlled by the BMS as an additional safety feature. The current level of charge of the battery pack is also calculated by the BMS and is displayed on a gauge found in the User Interface Module along with indicators from the BMS for low battery pack and full battery pack conditions.

 

BATTERY CHARGER

 

There are three levels of safety redundancy when using the charger. First, the charger itself is not a typical lead acid battery charger; it is designed to be intelligent and detect any problems with the battery pack and shut itself down, if necessary. Second, the BMS monitors each cell as well as the pack as a whole and is capable of disconnecting the charger via a relay. Third, there is a relay that requires power in order for the charger to operate. In the event that control power is lost, the charger is disabled. Every effort has been made to ensure the system is “fail safe.”