About 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric forklift units. These units derive their power from heavy, huge lead-acid batteries that which prevents the machine from tipping over because it gives it the counterweight.
According to the ITA, electric counterbalanced forklifts are considered Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 is the category which covers all stand-up counterbalanced trucks and other electric lift trucks. Although the first investment when purchasing an electric lift truck is more than an internal combustion or IC lift truck, electric lift trucks are a lot less costly to run and operate in the long-run. This is due to lower maintenance and fuel costs, than the IC models.
Within North America, most electric rider lift trucks are made for moving materials indoors. Electric rider trucks are used most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the right option for inside use since they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
Furthermore, electric forklift can normally run a complete 8 hour shift on a single battery charge. Recharging, reloading and removing batteries, that roughly weigh approximately 3000 pounds can be time consuming and difficult. This burdensome job often requires a dedicated space for handling the battery. Then again, new fast charging technologies are being used to update this method and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a a lot quicker method.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has changed electric model forklifts and the charging time of their batteries. The professionals of the material handling business, state that these new developments in the battery charging systems and battery technology can reduce charging time by up to 50%!
Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The internal combustion powered forklifts would rely on types of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger lift trucks are usually utilized outdoors. Generally, these units operate on gas or diesel and utilizes pneumatic or air-filled tires so as to make them suitable for rough terrain and steep inclines, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for smooth services and indoor applications since they are made from solid rubber.
The most popular fuel option for indoor trucks is LPG. There are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks nowadays that are operating within DCs and in warehouses. These units provide various advantages. For example, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100 percent consistent power during operation. Moreover, these models provide faster ground speeds as opposed to other power sources.