Electric lift truck units make up almost 60 percent of the forklift market. These units are powered by large, heavy lead-acid batteries that that prevents the machinery from tipping over because it acts as the counterweight.
Based on ITA, electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 is the category which includes all stand-up counterbalanced trucks and other electric forklifts. Though the initial investment when buying an electric forklift is more as opposed to an internal combustion or IC forklift, electric lift trucks are less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lesser fuel and maintenance expenses, than the internal combustion units.
In North America, the majority of electric rider forklifts are designed for transporting materials indoors. Electric rider trucks are used most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the best option for inside applications since they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
Furthermore, electric lift truck can normally operate a complete 8 hour shift on one battery charge. Recharging, reloading and removing batteries, which roughly weigh about 3000 pounds can be time consuming and hard. This cumbersome job usually needs a dedicated area for battery handling. Then again, new fast charging technologies are now used to change the procedure and update this process to be able to complete it in a a lot quicker way.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has changed electric model lift trucks and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The professionals of the material handling business, state that these new developments in the battery charging systems and battery technology can reduce charging time by up to 50 percent!
Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The IC powered lift truck will depend on kinds of fuels, such as LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The bigger forklifts are normally used outside. Usually, these models operate on diesel or gas and utilizes air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them appropriate for steep inclines and rough environment, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for indoor use and smooth services because they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG unit is the most popular fuel choice for indoor trucks. These days, there are more than 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks operating around the globe. These units offer numerous benefits. For instance, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. Also, these models provide faster ground speeds than other power sources.