Electric lift truck units make up nearly 60% of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their immense weight, these batteries naturally supply a lot 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. Although the first expenditure of an electric lift truck is more than IC lift trucks, electric units are less expensive to utilize in the long run. This is due to their lesser maintenance and fuel costs.
Most electric lift truck models which have been manufactured and engineered within North America, are used mostly in indoor environments. Electric lift trucks have usually been limited to indoor applications with surfaces that are clean and smooth. With the introduction of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to use electric rider units in some outdoor applications.
Because of the fact that electric lift truck models provide no harmful emissions, they are normally chosen for indoor applications when compared to Internal Combustion forklifts. Electric models could complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are very quiet when in operation. 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 often happens at a battery charging post or an area which is specifically used for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies becoming available on the market and these new systems are changing the method of charging batteries.
The Right Fit
A main factor associated with any kind of forklift is using the correct size of unit to do the particular operation. The application itself must always dictate what product is chosen.
Clients are always looking for methods to reduce their operating costs and find more effective work practices which help reduce these expenses, while also improving their productivity. Using the wrong size of lift truck could really slow things down and have a big 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 type of lift truck you require, a reputable dealer will be able to ask you the right questions that will enable you to make a proper choice. Numerous dealerships provide rentals of their equipment as well and this is a good way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a good way to try various units out to see which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best productivity.