Electric lift truck models make up almost 60 percent of the forklift market. These units are powered by heavy, large lead-acid batteries which that prevents the machine from tipping over because it gives it the counterweight.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced trucks are considered Class 1 lift trucks. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced forklifts in addition to other electric trucks that are made for general application. Although the first investment when you purchase an electric lift truck is more than an IC or internal combustion forklift, electric forklifts are a lot less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lower fuel and maintenance expenses, in comparison to the IC units.
In North America, the majority of electric rider lift trucks are made for transporting materials indoors. Electric rider trucks are utilized most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the best choice for inside applications due to their ability to make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
Also, electric lift truck could generally run a complete 8 hour shift on one battery charge. Recharging, reloading and removing batteries, which roughly weigh around 3000 lbs. can be time consuming and hard. This burdensome task usually requires a dedicated area for battery handling. Nevertheless, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to change the procedure and update this process to be able to accomplish it in a much faster way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has revolutionized electric model lift trucks and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The material handling business experts, state that these new changes in the battery technology and battery charging systems could reduce charging time by up to 50%!
Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The internal combustion powered forklifts would rely on kinds of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG and gasoline. The larger forklifts are commonly used outside. Normally, these models are gas or diesel powered and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them suitable for steep inclines and rough terrain, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for smooth services and indoor use because they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG model is the most common fuel option for indoor trucks. These days, there are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks operating all around the globe. These units provide various benefits. Like for example, forklifts that operate on propane fuel maintain 100% consistent power during operation. What's more, these models provide faster ground speeds than other power sources.