Electric forklift models make up almost sixty percent of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their massive weight, these batteries naturally offer much of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks made for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Although the first expenditure of an electric lift truck is more than internal combustion forklifts, electric models are cheaper to utilize in the long run. This is because of their lesser maintenance and fuel costs.
Most electric lift truck models that have been made and engineered within North America, are utilized mainly in indoor environments. Electric forklifts have traditionally been limited to indoor use with surfaces that are clean and smooth. With the launch of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to use electric rider units in certain outdoor operations.
Due to the fact that electric lift truck units provide no harmful emissions, they are normally chosen for indoor operations when compared to IC forklifts. Electric units could complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet when in use. The batteries for electric units weigh about 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries can be time consuming and cumbersome. This situation usually occurs at a battery charging station or an area which is specially designed for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies becoming available on the market and these new systems are changing the method of charging batteries.
The Right Fit
Using the correct size of forklift to do the specific application is key to any business application. The application itself should always dictate which product is chosen.
Customers are striving to find reduce operating costs and more effective methods to lessen operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall productivity, especially because the economy becomes more complex and competitive. Utilizing the wrong size of forklift could greatly slow things down and have a big impact on the bottom line and success of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are unsure about what particular kind of lift truck you need, a reliable dealer will be able to ask you the right questions which will enable you to make a correct selection. Many dealerships provide rentals of their machines as well and this is a really great way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a nice 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 production.