Six Takeaways for Smarter Battery Selection in Floorcare
In anticipation of Interclean 2026, Jimmy Au, our Vice President of Products for Motive Applications, sat down with the Interclean team to discuss his perspective on battery choice for floor cleaning equipment.
"Battery choice," Jimmy says, "is no longer just a performance decision. As sustainability expectations rise and regulations evolve, the “best” battery depends on how the machine is used, where it operates, and what the operator needs to achieve." Here are six key insights from the conversation:
There is no single "best" chemistry
The right battery comes down to real-world factors like duty cycle, shift patterns, charging habits (full cycles vs opportunity charging), climate, safety requirements, and total cost of ownership. One chemistry may be ideal in one facility and a poor fit in another.
Lead-acid still dominates globally for good reason
Despite lithium’s growth, lead acid remains widely used in floor care because it is proven, broadly supported, and backed by mature recycling infrastructure. Within lead acid, common options include flooded (wet), AGM, and gel, each with different maintenance and operational implications.
EU regulations are reshaping decision-making
The EU Battery Regulation is shifting the industry conversation toward sustainability, traceability, and producer responsibility. It is also bringing more attention to the transport, storage, and safety requirements tied to different chemistries, particularly lithium, which can introduce added complexity depending on the country and facility.
The market is moving away from flooded batteries
Globally, the trend is toward maintenance-free solutions. Flooded batteries require watering, electrolyte handling, and ventilation due to off-gassing. In many environments (hospitals, schools, food processing), those demands create avoidable risk and complexity, accelerating adoption of sealed options like AGM and gel (and, in some cases, lithium).
“Maintenance-free” does not mean “one-size-fits-all”
Not all sealed batteries perform the same. For scrubbers and other motive applications, traction grade design matters because it is engineered for cycling endurance, vibration, and heat. Traction AGM in particular has evolved significantly, offering strong runtime and improved charging efficiency when matched with the right charger.
OEMs should design for chemistry flexibility
Machine designers should not optimize for a single battery chemistry. Jimmy recommends keeping equipment chemistry-agnostic by selecting chargers that support multiple chemistries and designing battery compartments to accommodate different footprints and runtimes. This is especially important for global product rollouts, where regulatory requirements vary by country and what is compliant in one market may add cost and complexity in another.
For deeper context, including chemistry trade-offs and practical guidance for OEMs and operators, read the full article here: https://www.intercleanshow.com/news/robotics/choosing-the-right-battery-for-floor-cleaning-machines-why-every-chemistry-still-has-its-place.
Discover Battery will be exhibiting at Interclean, the global cleaning and floor hygiene event, in Amsterdam on April 14-17. We hope to see you at booth 07.203.
