Voltage is a system decision, not a spec-sheet line
Battery voltage classes exist because power is voltage times current, and every ampere a system pushes costs copper, heat and losses. Raise the voltage and the same power flows at lower current: thinner cables, cooler connectors, better efficiency, and motors that hold torque under load without enormous conductors. Lower the voltage and you get cheaper components and simpler safety engineering, at the cost of current everywhere. Truck classes therefore sort themselves by voltage: light warehouse equipment at 24 V, mid platforms at 48 V, and full-size counterbalance trucks at 80 V — the point where cable economy and continuous power genuinely matter.
Where each platform earns its place
| Platform | Typical duty | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| 24 V | Walkie pallet trucks, stackers — e.g. ST15 (60 Ah) and ST20 (80 Ah) | Light loads, short cycles, simple low-voltage components, easy charging anywhere |
| 48 V | Mid-size warehouse equipment and light counterbalance classes | Steps down current for higher power while keeping component costs moderate |
| 80 V | Full-size electric counterbalance — the Granvolt EP18 / EP25 / EP30 line | Continuous high power, efficient cabling, fast charging, thermal headroom |
Why counterbalance wants 80 V
A counterbalance truck spends its day doing the hardest thing an electric drivetrain does: accelerating and lifting thousands of kilograms repeatedly, for hours. At 80 V, the EP30's 6 kW AC traction and its hydraulic lifting deliver that duty at currents that stay manageable — which shows up as cables and connectors that run cool, contactors that last, and charging that can push hard without monster conductors: the EP30 takes 0-80 percent in two hours. At lower voltages the same duty means either thicker copper everywhere or efficiency lost as heat.
The 80 V platform is also why our counterbalance line charges fast enough for opportunity charging to restructure shifts, and why the pack supports features like the EP30's battery thermal management — the platform has headroom to run protection systems without stealing usable power.
What buyers should actually check
- Match platform to truck class. The voltage number itself is not a quality grade; a 48 V stacker and an 80 V counterbalance are different tools for different duty.
- Check charger availability and site supply. Higher-voltage platforms need matched chargers; confirm the charging points in your RFQ — our guide to matching battery and charger lists the checks.
- Read the whole battery story. Chemistry, capacity, charge time and thermal management matter more than the voltage badge; the lithium life guide and the lithium vs lead-acid comparison cover those in depth.
- Standardize where fleets mix. Sites running our EP counterbalance line alongside ST warehouse trucks already operate two platforms; the charging points are separate and that is by design.
The short version for fleet buyers: the voltage class follows from the truck class you need, not the other way round. Size the truck by load center, height and duty — the capacity worksheet — and the platform picks itself. If a quotation arrives describing a platform without connecting it to duty, ask what the voltage is doing for the truck; a good answer takes one sentence.
Voltage platforms and mixed fleets in practice
Most real sites end up with two platforms: an 80 V counterbalance line for yard and dock-heavy work, and a 24 V warehouse line for dock and aisle work — the exact split of our EP and ST series. The platforms coexist without friction because their duties barely overlap, but two habits keep the coexistence clean: labeling that follows the truck, not the outlet, so a 24 V walkie never gets parked at an 80 V point; and charger counts sized per platform from each line's own duty arithmetic, not averaged across the fleet. Sites that buy a third platform should ask what duty the current two genuinely cannot serve, because every additional platform carries its own chargers, spares and training for years. Standardizing on fewer platforms is one of the quietest TCO decisions a fleet makes, and it is made at purchase time, not in the maintenance bay.
A one-paragraph answer for the procurement file
When a purchasing committee asks why the counterbalance line is 80 V, the whole guide compresses to this: power equals voltage times current, an 80 V platform delivers counterbalance duty at currents that keep cables, connectors and contactors in their comfort zone, it charges fast enough to make opportunity charging real, and it leaves headroom for battery protection systems. The 24 V warehouse line exists for the opposite set of reasons — light duty, simple components, charging anywhere. The platforms are matched to truck classes, the chargers are matched to platforms, and the quotation documents each. File this paragraph next to the battery warranty and the cycle-life specification, and the voltage question is closed for the life of the fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Is an 80V forklift battery better than 48V?
Neither is better in general; they serve different truck classes. 80 V suits full-size counterbalance duty where continuous power and cable economy matter, while lower platforms suit warehouse and light equipment.
What voltage do Granvolt trucks use?
The EP counterbalance line runs 80 V LiFePO4 packs, and the ST warehouse line — the ST15 and ST20 — runs 24 V lithium packs.
Does higher voltage mean faster charging?
It enables it: higher voltage pushes charging power at manageable current. Charge times still depend on the pack and charger — the EP30 reaches 80% in 2 hours on its platform.
Can I mix 80V and 24V trucks on one charging point?
No. Each platform needs its matched charger. Mixed fleets run separate charging points per platform, as our EP and ST series do by design.
Does voltage affect battery life?
Not directly. Life is governed by chemistry, duty, heat and charging discipline — see our lithium battery life guide for the factors that matter.