About 60 percent of the forklift market is made up by electric forklift models. These models are powered by big, heavy lead-acid batteries that give the machine it's counterweight so as to prevent it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced forklifts are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks in addition to other electric trucks which are made for general use. Though the first investment when you purchase an electric lift truck is more as opposed to an internal combustion or IC truck, electric forklifts are less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lower fuel and maintenance expenses, compared to the IC or internal combustion models.
The majority of the electric rider lift trucks shipped in North America is designed for moving material inside. They are usually used in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the right option for inside applications due to their ability to make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
The battery of an electric lift truck can operate on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The recharging, reloading and removing batteries which weigh upwards of 3000 pounds could be hard and time consuming. This cumbersome task normally needs a dedicated area for handling the battery. However, new fast charging technologies are now utilized 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 revolutionized electric model forklifts and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The experts of the material handling business, state that these new developments within the battery charging systems and battery technology can reduce charging time by as much as 50 percent!
Internal Combustion or IC Counterbalanced Forklifts
The IC powered lift truck would depend on kinds of fuels, such as LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger lift trucks are commonly used outdoors. Normally, these units operate on diesel or gas and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires in order to make them appropriate for steep inclines and rough environment, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for smooth services and indoor use because they are made from solid rubber.
The most common fuel choice for indoor trucks is LPG. There are more than 600,000 propane-filled forklifts nowadays that are operating within DCs and in warehouses. These models provide various advantages. For instance, propane-fueled lift trucks maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. Moreover, these models offer faster ground speeds than other power sources.