Electric lift truck models make up almost 60% of the entire material handling market. Powering these units are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their immense weight, these batteries naturally offer much 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. Though the first expense of an electric forklift is more than IC forklifts, electric models are cheaper to use in the long run. This is due to their lower maintenance and fuel expenses.
The majority of the electric rider trucks manufactured and designed in North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric lift trucks have traditionally been limited to indoor use with smooth and clean surfaces. With the introduction of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to use electric rider models in certain outdoor operations.
Due to the fact that electric forklift models produce no harmful emissions, they are usually selected for indoor operations when compared to IC forklifts. Electric models can complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet when in use. The batteries for electric models weigh approximately 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries can be cumbersome and time consuming. This situation usually happens at a battery charging zone or an area that is specially used for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that would be available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging process.
The Proper Fit
Utilizing the right size of lift truck to complete the specific operation is important to any business operation. The application itself should always dictate which product is chosen.
Customers are always looking for means to reduce their operating costs and find more efficient work practices which help reduce these costs, while also improving their productivity. Utilizing the wrong size of lift truck can greatly slow things down and have a huge effect on the bottom line and profitability of a company, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are unsure about what specific kind of lift truck you need, a reputable dealer would be able to ask you the right questions which will enable you to make a correct choice. Numerous dealerships provide rentals of their machines too and this is a really good way to try before you commit to such a big purchase. It is also a nice way to try different models out to see which ones bring you the best production and which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with.