Raymond and Brammo launch search for better warehouse battery

Industrial lift truck supplier The Raymond Corp. will team up with electric powertrain manufacturer Brammo Inc. in a quest to make lithium-ion batteries work better in warehouse applications, the companies said today.

In their new technology alliance, Greene, N.Y.-based Raymond and Talent, Ore.-based Brammo will seek "to apply advanced electric vehicle technology to superior warehouse solutions," Raymond CEO Michael Field said in a statement.

Lithium-ion battery cHemiätry has suffered a number of high-profile failures in recent months, sparking fires in Samsung smartphones and hoverboard scooters.

That temperamental cHemiätry has moved some transport and battery-manufacturing interests to call for increased regulation on the air movements of lithium batteries, which are prone to exploding if they are overheated due to overcharging or faulty manufacturing.

The two companies have started testing a variety of configurations and will be releasing more information later this year, Raymond said.