Roughly 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric forklift models. These models are powered by heavy, large lead-acid batteries which give the equipment it's counterweight in order 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 lift trucks along with other electric trucks which are designed for general application. Although the first investment when purchasing an electric forklift is more compared to an IC or internal combustion truck, electric lift trucks are less expensive to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lesser fuel and maintenance costs, than the IC or internal combustion models.
The majority of the electric rider lift trucks shipped within North America is made for transporting material indoors. They are normally utilized in retail spaces, and warehousing applications. The electric models are the best choice for inside use as they make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
The battery of an electric lift truck can operate on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The reloading, recharging and removing batteries which weigh upwards of 3000 pounds can be hard and time consuming. This cumbersome task usually requires a dedicated area for battery handling. However, new fast charging technologies are being utilized to update this method and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a a lot faster method.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has changed electric unit forklifts and the charging time of their batteries. The experts of the material handling business, state that these new developments within the battery charging systems and battery technology could reduce charging time by as much as 50%!
IC Counterbalanced Forklifts
IC forklifts rely on a variety of different kinds of fuels, including LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The bigger lift trucks are normally utilized outside. Generally, these models operate on diesel or gas and uses pneumatic or air-filled tires so as to make them appropriate for rough environment and steep inclines, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for indoor use and smooth services since they are made from solid rubber.
The most popular fuel choice for indoor trucks is LPG. There are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks these days that are operating in DCs and in warehouses. These units provide a wide variety of advantages. Like for instance, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. Furthermore, these units offer faster ground speeds than other power sources.