Electric lift truck units make up nearly 60% of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their immense weight, these batteries naturally offer a lot of the counterweight.
The counterbalanced version of forklifts have been classed as Class 1 lift trucks by the ITA. Class 1 typically refers to electric lift trucks made for general use and stand-up counterbalanced forklifts. Though the initial expense of an electric lift truck is more than IC forklifts, electric units are cheaper to use eventually. This is due to their lower maintenance and fuel costs.
The majority of electric forklift models which have been made and designed within North America, are used mainly in indoor environments. Electric lift trucks have traditionally been limited to indoor applications with smooth and clean surfaces. With the introduction of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider models in some outdoor applications.
When compared to Internal Combustion lift trucks, the electric trucks are typically chosen for indoor applications due to the fact they provide no harmful emissions, can normally complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet to run. The batteries for electric units weigh about 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries can be time consuming and burdensome. This situation often occurs at a battery charging zone or an area which is particularly designed 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 Right Fit
Utilizing the correct size of lift truck to do the specific application is key to any business application. The application itself must always dictate what product is selected.
Customers are always looking for means to reduce their operating expenses and find more effective work practices that help lower these costs, while also improving their productivity. Utilizing the wrong size of lift truck can greatly slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and profitability of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
A trustworthy lift truck dealer would be able to assist if you are uncertain about the specific type of forklift you require. They will ask you right questions which will enable you to make a proper choice. Many dealerships provide rentals of their machines too and this is a great 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 operators are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best productivity.