Electric forklift units make up almost sixty percent of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their immense weight, these batteries naturally provide a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks designed for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Even though the initial cost of an electric lift truck is more than IC lift trucks, electric units are less expensive to utilize in the long run. This is because of their lesser maintenance and fuel costs.
Most of the electric rider trucks made and engineered within North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric lift trucks have traditionally been limited to indoor use with surfaces that are clean and smooth. With the introduction of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider models in certain outdoor applications.
Due to the fact that electric lift truck models provide no harmful emissions, they are normally selected for indoor applications when compared to IC forklifts. Electric units could complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet when in operation. The batteries for electric models weigh approximately 3,000 pounds. The job of reloading, recharging and removing the batteries can be time consuming and cumbersome. This situation usually occurs at a battery charging post or an area which is specially utilized for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies becoming available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging process.
The Proper Fit
Using the correct size of lift truck to do the specific operation is key to any business application. The application itself must always dictate what product is chosen.
Clients are striving to find reduce operating costs and more efficient ways to reduce operating costs, all the while increasing their overall production, especially as the economy becomes more competitive and complex. Using the wrong size of lift truck can really slow things down and have a big impact on the bottom line and productivity of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are unsure about what particular type of lift truck you need, a reliable dealer will be able to ask you the correct questions that would allow you to make a proper selection. Numerous dealerships offer rentals of their machines too and this is a really good way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a good way to try various models out to see which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best production.