A fleet operator with forklifts at several warehouses wants to move to lithium. The procurement and fleet team debate whether to test one sample battery first or order a small pilot batch for two sites.
A single sample checks fit, communication and charging on one truck. A pilot batch shows how packs behave across shifts, operators and sites. Many buyers do both: one sample to confirm the technical fit, then a pilot batch of a few units before the full order. Agree success measures in advance, such as runtime per shift, charging behaviour and faults, and plan how results feed into the main order.
What each step tests
- Sample. Fit in the compartment, weight, connector, truck communication, charger pairing and display.
- Pilot batch. Real shift patterns, different operators, charging routines and support response across sites.
Planning the pilot
- Trucks. Pick the hardest duty, not the easiest, so results are useful.
- Sites. Two sites with different shift patterns show more than one.
- Measures. Runtime per shift, charge times, end-of-shift state of charge, alarms and operator feedback; see our monitoring article.
- Duration. Long enough to cover normal peaks and a full charging routine.
Ordering
OEM custom orders have no MOQ by default (1 piece), although some specific products carry a 10-piece minimum, so confirm for your model. Confirm lead time for the sample and the pilot units, and whether pilot units can be updated if changes are needed. Our sample-to-series article covers custom packs, and our MOQ article covers first and repeat orders.
Scaling up
Review results with the supplier, agree any changes and fix the specification before the main order. Redway’s forklift specification tables show 5 years, which is the design life of the pack; the after-sales technical support period is 3 years. Redway’s replacement and conversion page gives background.
Risk limits
A pilot reduces risk but does not remove it; site conditions vary. Confirm specifications and terms for your trucks at quotation. This article is general guidance for buyers.
Additional perspectives
Write the success measures down before the packs arrive. Otherwise every result can be read as good or bad.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Fleet manager perspective
Ask whether pilot units count towards the main order. It makes the pilot easier to approve internally.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Procurement perspective
Share truck models and shift patterns before the sample ships. We can check charger and communication settings in advance.
Redway Tech Editorial Team – Supplier engineer perspective
Specifications are taken from Redway product pages as of October 2026. Where a figure isn’t published, this article says so. Confirm current specifications for your model with Redway before ordering. This article is general guidance, not a site-specific engineering assessment.
Related products
- 48V 460Ah 450Ah Forklift Lithium Battery
- 48V 600Ah 630Ah Forklift Lithium Battery
- 48V 560Ah 550Ah Forklift Lithium Battery
- 24V 280Ah 300Ah Forklift Lithium Battery
- 80V 400Ah 420Ah Forklift Lithium Battery
Related topics
- Forklift Battery OEM & Procurement
- Forklift Battery Replacement & Conversion
- Forklift Battery Runtime & Shift Planning
- Forklift BMS, Fleet Monitoring & Telematics
- Lithium vs Lead-Acid Forklift Batteries
- Forklift Battery Voltage & Capacity
- OEM Services
- Forklift Battery Charging
- Forklift Energy Solutions & Electrification
- 48V Forklift Battery Systems
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