Electric forklift units make up nearly sixty percent of the entire material handling market. Powering these units are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their immense weight, these batteries naturally offer a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 lift trucks. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks made for general use and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Although the initial expense of an electric forklift is more than IC forklifts, electric units are cheaper to utilize eventually. This is due to their lower fuel and maintenance expenses.
Most electric lift truck units which have been made and designed in North America, are utilized mainly in indoor settings. Electric forklifts have usually been limited to indoor use with smooth and clean surfaces. With the introduction of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider models in some outdoor applications.
Because of the fact that electric forklift units provide no harmful emissions, they are usually selected for indoor applications when compared to Internal Combustion forklifts. Electric models can complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet when in operation. The batteries for electric models weigh around 3,000 pounds. The job of reloading, recharging and removing the batteries can be time consuming and burdensome. This situation often happens at a battery charging station or an area which is specifically designed for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that will be available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging process.
The Right Fit
A main factor associated with any type of lift truck is using the correct size of model to do the particular operation. The application itself should always dictate which product is selected.
Clients are always looking for methods to reduce their operating costs and find more effective work practices which help lower these expenses, while also improving their productivity. Using the wrong size of lift truck can really slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and success of a company, while negatively affecting the production on the jobsite.
A good forklift dealer will be able to assist if you are unsure about the particular type of forklift you require. They would ask you right questions which will enable you to make a correct choice. Many dealerships provide rentals of their equipment 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 different models out to see which ones bring you the best productivity and which ones you and your operators are the most comfortable with.