Hyundai's 160B-X Battery-Electric Forklift Brings Heavy-Duty Lifting Into the EV Era

Hyundai has finished building out its B-X line of high-voltage electric forklifts with the introduction of several new high-capacity models, including the 16-tonne 160B-X. The expansion means Hyundai dealers can now offer battery-electric counterbalance forklifts ranging from 4 to 18 tonnes, venturing into territory that has long been dominated by diesel-powered machines.

The 160B-X relies on a substantial 618V lithium-ion battery pack that delivers over seven hours of continuous operation per charge. Since handling 16 tonnes of cargo on a jobsite demands strict safety measures, the truck comes loaded with intelligent features such as camera-based pedestrian detection, load sensing, Blue Spot and Red Zone lighting, autonomous parking, and an operator-presence system that halts travel and mast functions when the driver gets off the seat.

Hyundai designed these larger B-X trucks for environments where diesel forklifts have traditionally been the default choice, including ports, shipbuilding yards, timber processing, metal production, construction materials handling, manufacturing, and logistics. In these settings, equipment often works outdoors year-round in rain, cold, and dust — conditions where electric drivetrains have proven themselves capable of outperforming diesel.

While Hyundai is still filling in details on charging rates and full specifications, the company promises rapid charging capability, suggesting these machines are intended as heavy-duty electric workhorses rather than warehouse-only EVs. The 180B-X, which was also shown alongside the 160B-X, is already shipping to customers.