Electric lift truck models make up nearly 60% of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their massive weight, these batteries naturally offer a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks made for general use and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Although the first cost of an electric forklift is more than internal combustion forklifts, electric units are less expensive to utilize in the long run. This is because of their lower fuel and maintenance expenses.
The majority of electric forklift units that have been made and designed in North America, are used mainly in indoor settings. Electric forklifts have usually been limited to indoor use with surfaces that are clean and smooth. With the launch of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider units in certain outdoor applications.
When compared to Internal Combustion lift trucks, the electric trucks are typically chosen for indoor use because of the fact they provide no harmful emissions, could normally complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are extremely quiet to run. The batteries for electric models weigh roughly 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries could be burdensome and time consuming. This situation usually occurs at a battery charging post or an area which is specially designed for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that will be available on the market and these new systems are changing the method of charging batteries.
The Proper Fit
A main factor connected with any kind of forklift is using the right size of unit to complete the particular operation. The application itself should always dictate which product is selected.
Clients are striving to find lessen operating expenses and more efficient ways to reduce operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall production, especially because the economy becomes more complex and competitive. Using the wrong size of forklift could really slow things down and have a huge effect on the bottom line and productivity of a business, while negatively affecting the production on the jobsite.
If you are uncertain about what particular kind of lift truck you need, a respectable dealer would be able to ask you the right questions that would enable you to make a correct selection. Many dealerships provide rentals of their machinery too and this is a good way to try before you commit to such a big purchase. It is also a nice way to try various models out to see which ones bring you the best production and which ones you and your operators are the most comfortable with.