Electric lift truck models make up almost sixty percent of the whole material handling market. Powering these models are extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their massive weight, these batteries naturally provide a lot of the counterweight.
The counterbalanced type of lift trucks have been classed as Class 1 lift trucks by the ITA. Class 1 typically refers to electric forklifts made for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks. Even if the first expenditure of an electric lift truck is more than internal combustion forklifts, electric models are cheaper to utilize in the long run. This is due to their lesser maintenance and fuel costs.
Most of the electric rider trucks made and engineered in North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric lift trucks have usually been limited to indoor applications with clean and smooth surfaces. With the introduction of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider units in some outdoor applications.
When compared to Internal Combustion lift trucks, the electric trucks are usually selected for indoor use due to the fact they provide no harmful emissions, could normally complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet to operate. The batteries for electric models weigh about 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries can be time consuming and cumbersome. This situation often happens at a battery charging station or an area that is specially used for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that would be available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging method.
The Right Fit
A main factor connected with any type of lift truck is utilizing the right size of model to complete the specific operation. The application itself should always dictate what product is chosen.
Customers are striving to find reduce operating expenses and more effective ways to reduce operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall production, specially as the economy becomes more complex and competitive. Utilizing the wrong size of lift truck could really slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and success of a company, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are uncertain about what particular kind of forklift you need, a reputable dealer would be able to ask you the right questions that would allow you to make a correct selection. Numerous dealerships offer rentals of their machinery as well and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a huge purchase. It is also a good way to try various units out to see which ones bring you the best productivity and which ones you and your operators are the most comfortable with.