Approximately 60 percent of the forklift market is made up by electric lift truck units. These models are powered by large, heavy lead-acid batteries that that prevents the machine from tipping over as it gives it the counterweight.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced forklifts are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also includes stand-up counterbalanced trucks in addition to other electric trucks which are designed for general use. Although the first investment when you buy an electric forklift is more than an IC or internal combustion forklift, electric trucks are less costly to run and operate in the long-run. This is due to lower fuel and maintenance expenses, in comparison to the internal combustion models.
Most of the electric rider forklift trucks shipped in North America is made for transporting material inside. They are normally utilized in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the right choice for inside use due to their ability to emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
Also, electric lift truck could usually run a complete 8 hour shift on a single battery charge. Reloading, recharging and removing batteries, which roughly weigh about 3000 pounds could be time consuming and difficult. This cumbersome task usually needs a dedicated area for handling the battery. Then again, new fast charging technologies are being utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a much faster way.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has changed electric model forklifts and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The material handling industry experts, state that these new developments within the battery charging systems and battery technology can lessen charging time by up to 50%!
Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Forklifts
Internal combustion forklifts depend on a variety of different types of fuels, such as liquid propane gas or LPG, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger forklifts are commonly used outdoors. Usually, these units operate on diesel or gas and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires in order to make them suitable for rough terrain and steep slopes, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for indoor applications and smooth services since they are made from solid rubber.
The most popular fuel choice for indoor trucks is LPG. There are more than 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks today that are operating within DCs and in warehouses. These units offer numerous advantages. For instance, forklifts which run on propane fuel maintain 100 percent consistent power during operation. Also, these models provide faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.