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——Looking at the Future of the Industry from the Anhui Heli Global Event

On September 8, 2024, Anhui Heli Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese industrial truck company, heralded a new era for the forklift industry with a grand ceremony that included the global launch of new products, the unveiling of a cutting-edge laboratory, and the opening of a digital exhibition hall. This event was not only a milestone for Heli itself but also served as a mirror reflecting the profound transformations taking place in the electric forklift industry in China and globally. Looking at the industry's development, the future of electric forklifts will move beyond simply replacing the "electric" energy source. Instead, it will embrace deep integration and rapid evolution towards intelligent, green, global, and comprehensive solutions.

I.Green Power: Diversified and In-Depth Competition in New Energy Technologies

  The replacement of internal combustion forklifts by electric forklifts has become an irreversible global consensus. However, the meaning of "electrification" is rapidly expanding in the future, moving from a single lead-acid battery to a deep competition in diverse new energy solutions.

1.Lithium-ion batteries dominate, accelerating technological iteration: Lithium-ion batteries have become standard equipment for high-end electric forklifts.The focus of future competition will shift from "whether there is a lithium battery" to the ultimate exploration of battery performance. This includes but is not limited to:

Fast Charging Technology: The voltage platform has been upgraded from the traditional 400V to 600V and even 800V, enabling "10-20 minutes of charging, 4-8 hours of operation," significantly alleviating charging anxiety and bringing the refueling experience closer to that of internal combustion vehicles.

Battery Cell and BMS Technology: Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have become the mainstream choice due to their high safety and long cycle life. Battery Management Systems (BMS) will evolve towards more precise intelligent algorithms, enabling millisecond-level status monitoring, health prediction, and balancing management, maximizing the battery's full lifecycle value.

Exploring Battery Swapping Models: In scenarios where peak logistics times are clearly defined and people frequently park, modular battery swapping models will be an effective supplement, particularly suitable for rental and large fleet users.

        2.Hydrogen energy is emerging, positioning for a long-term future: Hydrogen fuel cell forklifts, the "ultimate environmental solution," offer significant advantages in specific scenarios (fast refueling, excellent low-temperature performance, and zero emissions). Despite current constraints from infrastructure and costs, leading companies like Heli have already begun developing technology. The establishment of institutions like the Tianshu Laboratory is precisely to prepare for cutting-edge technologies like hydrogen energy, aiming to gain a commanding position in future market competition.

II. Intelligent Connectivity: A Disruptive Shift from "Feature Phones" to "Intelligent Nodes"

      The "Tianshu Laboratory," jointly unveiled this time, takes its name from the first of the Big Dipper, signifying its core leadership in intelligent R&D. This signals the shift in the core of industry competition from hardware manufacturing to software-defined and data-driven development.

        1.Autonomous driving and swarm dispatching: Autonomous forklifts (AGVs/AMRs) based on AI vision and laser SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) technology will move from demonstration projects to large-scale deployment. Future intelligent forklifts will no longer function as isolated entities, but rather as "swarms" capable of real-time communication and collaborative operations through technologies like 5G and V2X. Centralized dispatching systems can simultaneously plan routes and assign tasks for hundreds of forklifts, improving overall efficiency by over 30%. The new K3 series is expected to feature significant upgrades in perception and decision-making capabilities.

        2.Digital Twins and Predictive Maintenance: The opening of the Heli Digital Pavilion serves as an internal and external showcase of its digitalization strategy. This is driven by the in-depth application of digital twin technology. Every smart forklift sold has a digital image created in the cloud, synchronizing operational data in real time. Through big data analysis, the system can proactively predict potential failures in key components (such as motors, electronic controls, and masts), shifting from "fix after failure" to "pre-emptive warnings," significantly reducing customer losses from unplanned downtime and reshaping the after-sales service system.

3.Intelligent upgrade of safety technology: Smart forklifts will integrate more active safety features, such as pedestrian recognition, blind spot monitoring, driver status analysis (anti-fatigue), high-precision load monitoring, etc. Through AI algorithms, potential accidents can be eliminated in the bud to create a "zero accident" warehouse.

III. Model Transformation: From Product Sales to Full Lifecycle Value Mining through a "Product + Service + Data" Model

The industry's business model is undergoing a transformation. Profit margins from traditional single-use equipment sales are shrinking, while value-added services based on intelligent connectivity are becoming a new source of profit growth.

1.Solution-oriented: Customers don't need just a forklift; they need an efficient material handling solution. Leading companies are transforming from equipment suppliers to full-process logistics solution integrators, offering a comprehensive package of solutions including vehicles, management systems, operation and maintenance services, and financial leasing.

2.Value-added Services: Leveraging IoT data, companies can offer a wide range of value-added services, such as uptime-based billing, battery leasing and management, remote debugging and upgrades, and operational efficiency analysis reports. These services are highly engaging and sustainable, building a strong customer moat.

        3.Data Valuation: Massive amounts of equipment operating data are a vast gold mine. After anonymization, this data can be used to analyze industry sentiment and customer behavior, guide new product development and improvement, and even provide risk management support for supply chain finance.

Ⅳ. Global Co-opetition: Strategic Opportunities for Chinese Brands to Transform from Following to Leading

China is already the world's largest forklift production and sales market. National brands such as Heli and Hangcha continue to increase their global market share thanks to their comprehensive supply chains, rapid R&D iterations, and cost advantages. The global debut of the K3 series is a testament to this strength.

In the future, Chinese brands will no longer be content with the low- and mid-end markets, but will instead compete directly with international giants like Toyota, Kion, and Jungheinrich in the high-end market. The competitive landscape will also expand from price and durability to encompass technical standards, brand influence, global service networks, and localized operational capabilities. Establishing cutting-edge R&D centers like the Tianshu Laboratory is a crucial step in mastering core technologies and establishing a global technology brand image.

Conclusion

Anhui Heli's grand ceremony on September 8th epitomized the upgrading of China's forklift industry. The future of electric forklifts lies in a grand arena that integrates cutting-edge materials science, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data. They are no longer simply transport tools, but essential intelligent nodes in the smart logistics ecosystem. The winners in future competition will undoubtedly be those companies that, driven by technology and guided by customer value, successfully complete the dual transformation from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing," and then from "selling products" to "selling services." Chinese power is striving to be a leader in this monumental transformation.