2 min

Half the Price, Full Power: KION Sets New Standard for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Electromobility is the backbone of modern intralogistics – and batteries are one of the crucial components. Most of our vehicles have electric drives, which is why battery costs have always been a key competitive factor. Now, the KION Group has reached a major milestone: a new lithium-ion battery from our own production, offering a significantly improved price-performance ratio and thus the potential to change the market.

2025-11-27

Dennis Lueneburger

Why this Development is So Important

Ten years ago, the first lithium-ion batteries in forklifts were up to eight times more expensive than the lead-acid batteries commonly used at the time – an obstacle for many customers. While lithium-ion technologies offer advantages such as higher energy efficiency, faster charging, and longer service life, the price remained a bottleneck, especially for customers with low usage volumes.

f.l.t.r. Thomas Heesch (Vice President Network Partner Management LMH EMEA), Florian Heydenreich (Executive Vice President Sales & Services STILL), Heiko Sippel (Senior Director New Energy), Andreas Krinninger (President KION ITS EMEA) and Ray Bierzynski (Head of Module Development).

The Breakthrough: Enormous Cost Advantages

With the lithium-ion battery from our own production, we have now achieved a decisive step. "Thanks to the newly developed battery, our price is finally competitive," explains Hans Schotte, Senior Vice President Global Functional Lead KION New Energy. The cost advantage per forklift for a medium-sized battery is several thousand euros compared to previous lithium-ion solutions. And this with consistent quality and performance.

The new battery is up to 65 percent cheaper than previous models and impresses with a significantly longer service life. "In terms of total cost of ownership, this is a very attractive solution for our customers," adds Thomas Heesch, Vice President Energy Solutions ITS EMEA.

Florian Heydenreich, Executive Vice President Sales & Services STILL: “With this battery, we are sending a strong signal: Innovation and cost-efficiency go hand in hand at KION."

Production Starts – Deployment in Linde and STILL

After the first batteries had already been manufactured on a pilot line in Hamburg, the grand opening of the production took place at the end of October. During the festive ceremony in Hamburg, Florian Heydenreich, Executive Vice President Sales & Services STILL, said: “With this battery, we are sending a strong signal: Innovation and cost-efficiency go hand in hand at KION – and we owe this to a great international team”. The modules are produced in our plant in Jingjiang (China), and final assembly, including electronics and quality testing, takes place in Hamburg. The battery is available in small and medium sizes with 48 and 90 volts; the larger variant will follow in 2026.

The advantages over lead-acid batteries are clear: up to three times longer service life, higher energy efficiency, faster charging, less maintenance, and the possibility of opportunity charging.

Technology with a Future

The advantages over lead-acid batteries are clear: up to three times longer service life, higher energy efficiency, faster charging, less maintenance, and the possibility of opportunity charging. With a warranty of 2,000 charge cycles or five years, KION is setting new standards.

"We launched the program at the beginning of 2024 – with the goal of reducing costs by half while ensuring quality. We have achieved this," says Heiko Sippel, Senior Director New Energy. A total of 28 vehicles have already been successfully tested in the field.

A Strong Signal for the Market

The development shows how KION combines innovation and cost efficiency. For customers, this means greater economic efficiency; for the capital market, it's a clear signal: We are ideally positioned to benefit from the expected double-digit growth in the lithium-ion segment.