Around 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric forklift models. These models are powered by huge, heavy lead-acid batteries which that prevents the machinery from tipping over because it acts as the counterweight.
Based on ITA, electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 lift trucks. Class 1 is the category which includes all stand-up counterbalanced trucks and other electric forklifts. Though the initial investment when you purchase an electric lift truck is more as opposed to an IC or internal combustion lift truck, electric trucks are much less expensive to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lesser fuel and maintenance costs, compared to the internal combustion models.
Within North America, most electric rider forklifts are designed for moving materials indoors. Electric rider trucks are used most commonly in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the best alternative for inside use due to their ability to emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
The battery of an electric forklift can operate on average for 8 hours or for one shift. The reloading, recharging and removing batteries which weigh upwards of 3000 pounds can be hard and time consuming. This burdensome task normally requires a dedicated area for handling the battery. Nonetheless, new fast charging technologies are being used to change the procedure and update this method to be able to complete it in a a lot quicker way.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has changed electric model lift trucks and the charging time of their batteries. The material handling industry experts, state that these new developments within the battery technology and battery charging systems could reduce charging time by as much as 50%!
IC Counterbalanced Forklifts
Internal combustion forklifts rely on a variety of different types of fuels, including liquid propane gas or LPG, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger lift trucks are normally used outside. Generally, these units operate on diesel or gas and utilizes pneumatic or air-filled tires in order to make them suitable for steep inclines and rough environment, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for indoor use and smooth services as they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG unit is the most popular fuel option for indoor trucks. Today, there are more than 600,000 propane-filled forklifts operating all around the globe. These units provide a wide range of benefits. For example, propane-fueled lift trucks maintain 100% consistent power during operation. In addition, these models offer faster ground speeds than other power sources.