Electric forklift units make up almost sixty percent of the entire material handling market. Powering these units are really heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their immense weight, these batteries naturally give a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 lift trucks. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks designed for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Though the initial expense of an electric lift truck is more than internal combustion forklifts, electric models are cheaper to use in the long run. This is due to their lesser maintenance and fuel expenses.
The majority of the electric rider trucks made and designed within North America are made for moving material within 4 walls. Electric forklifts have traditionally been limited to indoor use with smooth and clean surfaces. With the launch of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to utilize electric rider units in some outdoor applications.
Due to the fact that electric lift truck models produce no harmful emissions, they are normally chosen for indoor operations when compared to IC lift trucks. Electric models could complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are very quiet when in operation. Electric unit batteries weigh roughly 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries could be cumbersome and time consuming. This situation normally occurs at a battery charging post or an area that is particularly designed 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
Using the right size of forklift to complete the particular application is vital to any business operation. The application itself must always dictate which product is selected.
Customers are always looking for methods to lessen their operating costs and find more effective work practices that help reduce these costs, while also improving their production. Using the wrong size of forklift could really slow things down and have a big impact on the bottom line and success of a company, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
A good forklift dealer will be able to help if you are unsure about the specific kind of forklift you need. They would ask you right questions which will enable you to make a correct selection. A lot of dealerships offer rentals of their machines also and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a nice way to try different models out to see which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best productivity.