Toyota Material Handling has launched an energy solutions platform designed to help customers cut costs and optimize the efficiency of their material handling equipment and overall operations, the company said today.

Toyota Industrial Energy Solutions is a suite of offerings that includes on-site consultation, environmental support, battery and alternative energy sources, chargers and accessories, and service and repair, the Columbus, Indiana-based company said. As part of the program, Toyota forklift dealers can perform energy studies to help customers improve efficiency and overall operational productivity, the company also said. 

The goal is to help customers reduce maintenance costs, lower electric utility bills, reduce forklift downtime, and optimize charging efficiency.

"This is the next step on our journey to become a full-line provider of innovative, sustainable energy solutions for the material handling industry," Toyota Material Handling Senior Vice President Tony Miller said in a statement announcing the program. 

The company also said that its latest UL-rated lithium-ion battery lineup is a key part of its alternative energy solutions offering. 

"Toyota is the first and only manufacturer in the industry to obtain UL-E and UL-EE certification for the combination of lift truck and lithium-ion batteries on a sit-down counterbalanced forklift," the company said, referring to standards that permit the use of equipment in environments designated as explosive or hazardous. "Over 50 lithium-ion battery solutions have now been tested and approved by Toyota for use across its electric forklift lineup."