Medium-tonnage lithium-ion forklifts have been widely applied in modern warehouse logistics, manufacturing production lines and port cargo handling scenarios in recent years, as their zero emission, low noise and easy maintenance features fit the demand of low-carbon and high-efficiency material operation. Among all performance indicators of this kind of industrial vehicle, operational stability is a core factor directly related to personnel safety and property loss prevention, while many equipment operators and maintenance personnel often ignore the significant influence brought by the wheel-base length parameter.

The wheel-base length refers to the horizontal distance between the center points of the front and rear wheel sets of the forklift. For 3-ton to 5-ton medium tonnage lithium-ion forklifts, this parameter is not set arbitrarily in the design and production process, but matches the overall vehicle weight, battery layout, load center distance and maximum lifting height in a coordinated way. From the perspective of static load stability, a relatively shorter wheel base can bring smaller turning radius and better steering flexibility, which is suitable for operation in narrow channel scenes. But if the wheel base is too small beyond the reasonable matching range, the load transfer amplitude between the front and rear axles will increase significantly when the fork loads full rated goods and rises to the maximum lifting height, which will raise the risk of rear axle tilting and front side slipping on slightly sloped ground. If the wheel base is set too long, the anti-overturn redundancy under static load will be improved accordingly, but the overall steering passing performance will be reduced, and operators are more likely to encounter space insufficient problems when turning in compact working areas.

From the perspective of dynamic operation stability, the wheel-base length has a more obvious coordination effect on the overall gravity center distribution of lithium-ion forklifts. Different from traditional internal combustion forklifts, the main battery pack of medium-tonnage lithium-ion forklifts is usually arranged in the middle to rear part of the vehicle body, to reserve enough space for operation components at the front end. A wheel base set within the reasonable parameter range can effectively balance the moment difference between the rear battery counterweight and the front cargo load, avoid the rear body tilting risk when the forklift runs over uneven road sections with no load, and limit the front tilt angle within the safe threshold when the operator takes emergency braking with full load.

For actual equipment users, it is not advisable to blindly pursue ultra-high steering flexibility or extreme high anti-overturn performance when selecting medium tonnage lithium-ion forklifts. It is recommended to match the proper wheel-base length according to the actual operation environment, including the minimum channel width, conventional maximum lifting height, road surface condition and average cargo weight. Regular inspection of the wheel-base shape deformation caused by long term heavy load operation can also help maintain the original stability performance of the forklift, and reduce potential safety hazards in daily material handling work.