Roughly 60 percent of the forklift market consist of electric units. These models derive their power from extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their massive weight, these batteries naturally supply a lot 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 initial expense of an electric forklift is more than IC forklifts, electric units are cheaper to utilize in the long run. This is because of their lesser fuel and maintenance expenses.
Most of the electric rider trucks made and designed within North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric forklifts have usually been limited to indoor applications with clean and smooth surfaces. With the launch of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to utilize electric rider models in certain outdoor operations.
Because of the fact that electric forklift units provide no harmful emissions, they are normally selected for indoor applications when compared to IC forklifts. Electric models can 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 reloading, recharging and removing the batteries could be burdensome and time consuming. This situation normally occurs at a battery charging station or an area which is specially used for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies becoming available on the market and these new systems are changing the process of charging batteries.
The Right Fit
A main factor connected with any kind of forklift is utilizing the right size of unit to do the particular operation. The application itself should always dictate what product is chosen.
Clients are striving to find lessen operating expenses and more efficient ways to lessen operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall productivity, especially as the economy becomes more complex and competitive. Utilizing the wrong size of forklift can really slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and profitability of a company, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are uncertain about what specific type of lift truck you need, a respectable dealer will be able to ask you the right questions which will allow you to make a proper selection. Many dealerships offer rentals of their machinery too and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a big purchase. It is also a nice way to try various models out to see which ones bring you the best production and which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with.