Electric forklift models make up nearly 60 percent of the forklift market. These units derive their power from large, heavy lead-acid batteries which which prevents the equipment from tipping over since it acts as the counterweight.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also includes stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks along with other electric trucks that are made for general application. Though the initial investment when buying an electric forklift is more than an IC or internal combustion truck, electric trucks are much less expensive to run and operate in the long-run. This is because of lower maintenance and fuel costs, than the IC units.
In North America, the majority of electric rider forklifts are designed for moving materials indoors. Electric rider forklifts are used most frequently in retail spaces, and warehousing applications. The electric models are the right choice for inside use since they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
Also, electric lift truck could normally run a complete 8 hour shift on a single battery charge. Reloading, recharging and removing batteries, which generally weigh around 3000 lbs. can be time consuming and hard. This cumbersome task often needs a dedicated area for battery handling. Nonetheless, new fast charging technologies are being used to change the procedure and update this process to be able to complete it in a a lot quicker method.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has changed electric model lift trucks and the charging time of their batteries. The professionals of the material handling industry, state that these new changes within the battery technology and battery charging systems could reduce charging time by up to 50 percent!
Internal Combustion or IC Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The internal combustion powered lift truck will rely on types of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The bigger forklifts are usually used outside. Generally, these models are diesel or gas powered and utilizes air-filled or pneumatic tires in order to make them appropriate for rough terrain and steep inclines, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for smooth services and indoor applications because they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG model is the most common fuel choice for indoor trucks. Today, there are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks working all over the globe. These units offer various advantages. For instance, forklifts that operate on propane fuel maintain 100% consistent power during operation. Additionally, these models provide faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.