Approximately 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric forklift models. These models are powered by heavy, big lead-acid batteries that give the machine it's counterweight so as to avoid it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced forklifts are considered Class 1 lift trucks. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced forklifts in addition to other electric trucks which are made for general use. Though the first investment when you purchase an electric lift truck is more as opposed to an internal combustion or IC truck, electric lift trucks are less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is due to lesser fuel and maintenance expenses, compared to the IC units.
Within North America, most electric rider lift trucks are made for moving materials indoors. Electric rider forklifts are utilized most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the best choice for inside use because they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
Furthermore, electric lift truck can normally operate a complete 8 hour shift on a single battery charge. Reloading, recharging and removing batteries, which roughly weigh approximately 3000 pounds can be time consuming and hard. This burdensome task often needs a dedicated space for handling the battery. However, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to change the procedure and update this process to be able to complete it in a much faster way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be enhanced charging technology. It has revolutionized electric model forklifts and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The material handling business experts, state that these new changes within the battery charging systems and battery technology can lessen charging time by up to 50%!
Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Forklifts
IC lift trucks rely on a range of different kinds of fuels, like liquid propane gas or LPG, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The bigger lift trucks are usually used outside. Normally, these models are diesel or gas powered and utilizes air-filled or pneumatic tires in order to make them suitable for rough terrain and steep inclines, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for indoor applications and smooth services because they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG model is the most common fuel option for indoor trucks. These days, there are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks working around the globe. These units provide numerous benefits. For instance, lift trucks that operate on propane fuel maintain 100 percent consistent power during operation. Also, these units offer faster ground speeds than other power sources.