MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance
BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT
MEMBERS OF THE MHI Industry Group Advanced Energy Council (AEC) are actively promoting the safe adoption of advanced energy technologies in material handling, with a particular focus on motive power: lithium‑ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, chargers and the accessories that tie those systems together.
The group brings together manufacturers, equipment OEMs and suppliers under one roof to educate the market, develop best practices, collect meaningful data on where the technology is actually going and serve as “a collective, credible voice for the industry,” says Martin Boyd, chief marketing officer for Big Joe Forklifts, based in Madison, Wisconsin.
“Think of it as the place where the companies doing this work get organized and aligned, so the market gets better guidance and customers can make smarter decisions,” Boyd says.
A big part of what the AEC does is show up where the conversations are happening, he says. At MODEX 2026, AEC members ran the panel session, “Partners in Your Electrification Strategy”—a practical discussion about how companies navigate the move from internal combustion and lead acid to lithium. “We covered everything from power studies and OEM approvals to telemetry, data management and what good operator training looks like,” Boyd says. “That kind of forum matters because the questions people have aren’t simple, and they deserve real answers from people who do this every day.”
Beyond events, the AEC is building educational resources that help practitioners understand not just the technology, but the decision process behind adopting it, he says. There’s also an ongoing focus on safety.
“When you’re transitioning to lithium, the stakes around proper installation, OEM approvals and UL‑listed products are real,” Boyd says. “Having a group that articulates those standards clearly is valuable for everyone.”
The AEC is currently developing a set of best practices that will provide guidance for manufacturers and end users “to provide clarity as we all navigate new territory,” says Chuck Bartlett, director MP design engineering for EnerSys Inc., based in Reading, Pennsylvania.
One strategic consideration being proposed within these best practices is utilizing controller area network (CAN) protocol as a standard communication vehicle that can be utilized between the battery and the powered industrial truck, as well as between the battery and the charger, Bartlett says.
“CAN protocol will help identify what information and data points are critical to optimize the battery’s performance based on the needs of the powered industrial truck,” he says. “It will also help maximize safe charging of the truck’s batteries by informing the charger of critical performance criteria such as state of charge and temperature, among others.”
AEC member companies are also participating in the development of the new National Fire Protection Association 800 standard, also known as the Battery Safety Code, Bartlett says. In the future, the AEC will proactively educate end users about the NFPA 800 to help raise awareness about how they can safely install and operate advanced energy solutions, including batteries and chargers, in their facilities.
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