About 60 percent of the forklift market is made up by electric lift truck models. These units are powered by large, heavy lead-acid batteries which which prevents the machinery from tipping over as it acts as the counterweight.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced trucks are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced forklifts as well as other electric trucks which are made for general application. Although the initial investment when buying an electric lift truck is more than an internal combustion or IC lift truck, electric lift trucks are less costly to run and operate in the long-run. This is due to lower maintenance and fuel costs, than the internal combustion or IC models.
The majority of the electric rider lift trucks shipped within North America is designed for transporting material indoors. They are commonly used in retail spaces, and warehousing applications. The electric units are the right option for inside use because of their ability to emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
The battery of an electric lift truck could operate on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The recharging, reloading and removing batteries that weigh upwards of 3000 pounds can be difficult and time consuming. This burdensome job usually needs a dedicated space for battery handling. However, new fast charging technologies are being used to change the procedure and update this method to be able to complete it in a a lot faster method.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has revolutionized electric model forklifts and the charging time of their batteries. The experts of the material handling industry, state that these new changes in the battery charging systems and battery technology could cut charging time by as much as 50 percent!
IC or Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Internal combustion forklifts rely on a range of different kinds of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger forklifts are commonly utilized outdoors. Generally, these models operate on diesel or gas and utilizes pneumatic or air-filled tires in order to make them appropriate for steep slopes and rough environment, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for smooth services and indoor applications since they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG model is the most popular fuel choice for indoor trucks. These days, there are more than 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks working around the world. These models provide various benefits. Like for example, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100% consistent power during operation. As well, these models offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.