Toyota Material Handling (UK) Foresees Energy Storage Challenges and Innovations in the Supply Chain Sector
Key Ideas
- Electricity storage is identified as a major challenge in the UK supply chain sector due to the unpredictability of sustainable energy sources like solar and wind.
- High-capacity batteries are seen as crucial for sustaining electricity supply and potentially powering entire industrial sites or urban areas.
- Advancements in battery technology, including solid-state batteries, are expected to have a positive long-term impact on energy storage capabilities.
- There is a growing interest in alternative fuels such as hydrogen technology for larger materials handling equipment fleets to achieve emission-free operations.
Toyota Material Handling (UK) highlights the growing importance of energy storage in the supply chain sector as fossil fuels phase out. The unpredictability of sustainable energy sources like solar and wind necessitates the development of high-capacity batteries to ensure a constant electricity supply. Toyota emphasizes the role of batteries in powering industrial sites and urban areas, advocating for advancements in battery technology to address energy storage challenges. The report 'Trends in Logistics 2024' points towards a positive future for solid-state batteries and their potential to revolutionize energy storage. Additionally, there is a shift towards alternative fuels like hydrogen technology for emission-free operations in materials handling equipment fleets. Toyota's innovative approaches, including hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts, showcase the company's commitment to sustainable energy solutions and contribute to the UK's net zero ambitions.