Approximately 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric forklift models. These models are powered by heavy, big lead-acid batteries that give the machinery it's counterweight so as to avoid it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced forklifts as well as other electric trucks which are designed for general application. Even if the initial investment when buying an electric lift truck is more than an internal combustion or IC truck, electric lift trucks are less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lower fuel and maintenance expenses, in comparison to the IC units.
The majority of the electric rider lift trucks shipped in North America is made for moving material inside. They are usually utilized in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the best option for inside applications because they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
The battery of an electric lift truck could run on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The recharging, reloading and removing batteries which weigh upwards of 3000 pounds could be difficult and time consuming. This cumbersome job often requires a dedicated area for handling the battery. Then again, new fast charging technologies are being utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a a lot quicker method.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has revolutionized electric unit lift trucks and the charging time of their batteries. The professionals of the material handling industry, state that these new developments within the battery charging systems and battery technology could reduce charging time by up to 50 percent!
IC or Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Forklifts
Internal combustion lift trucks depend on a range of different types of fuels, including liquid propane gas or LPG, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger forklifts are usually used outdoors. Generally, these units operate on gas or diesel and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them appropriate for rough terrain and steep inclines, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for indoor applications and smooth services as they are made from solid rubber.
The most common fuel choice for indoor trucks is LPG. There are more than 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks nowadays which are operating within DCs and within warehouses. These units provide a huge range of advantages. Like for example, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. Additionally, these units offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.