Around 60 percent of the forklift market is made up by electric forklift units. These models are powered by heavy, huge lead-acid batteries which give the equipment it's counterweight so as to avoid it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 lift trucks. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced forklifts as well as other electric trucks which are designed for general application. Though the initial investment when purchasing an electric lift truck is more as opposed to an IC or internal combustion forklift, electric forklifts are much less expensive to run and operate in the long-run. This is because of lower fuel and maintenance expenses, than the IC units.
Within North America, the majority of electric rider lift trucks are made for transporting materials indoors. Electric rider forklifts are utilized most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the right option for inside use due to their ability to make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
Additionally, electric forklift could generally work a complete 8 hour shift on one battery charge. Recharging, reloading and removing batteries, which generally weigh approximately 3000 pounds could be time consuming and hard. This cumbersome task often needs a dedicated area for handling the battery. Nevertheless, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to accomplish it in a a lot faster way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has revolutionized electric model lift trucks and the charging time of their batteries. The material handling industry experts, state that these new developments within the battery technology and battery charging systems can reduce charging time by up to 50 percent!
IC Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The IC powered lift truck would depend on kinds of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger lift trucks are normally used outdoors. Usually, these units operate on gas or diesel and uses pneumatic or air-filled tires so as to make them appropriate for steep inclines and rough environment, 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 choice for indoor trucks is LPG. There are over 600,000 propane-filled forklifts nowadays that are operating in DCs and within warehouses. These units provide numerous advantages. For example, propane-fueled lift trucks maintain 100 percent consistent power during operation. What's more, these models offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.