Electric lift truck units make up almost 60 percent of the lift truck market. These models are powered by huge, heavy lead-acid batteries which that prevents the equipment from tipping over since it acts as the counterweight.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced trucks are considered Class 1 lift trucks. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks in addition to other electric trucks which are designed for general application. Though the initial investment when you purchase an electric lift truck is more than an IC or internal combustion truck, electric forklifts are much less expensive to operate and run in the long-run. This is due to lesser maintenance and fuel expenses, compared to the IC or internal combustion units.
In North America, most electric rider lift trucks are made for moving materials indoors. Electric rider trucks are used most frequently in retail spaces, and warehousing applications. The electric units are the right option for inside use due to their ability to make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
The battery of an electric lift truck could operate on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The recharging, reloading and removing batteries that weigh upwards of 3000 pounds could be difficult and time consuming. This cumbersome job usually requires a dedicated space for handling the battery. Then again, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a much quicker way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has changed electric model lift trucks and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The material handling industry experts, state that these new developments in the battery charging systems and battery technology could lessen charging time by as much as 50 percent!
IC Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
IC forklifts depend on a variety of different types of fuels, such as LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The bigger lift trucks are normally utilized outdoors. Usually, these models operate on gas or diesel and utilizes air-filled or pneumatic tires in order to make them suitable for steep slopes and rough terrain, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for indoor applications and smooth services since they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG unit is the most popular fuel option for indoor trucks. Nowadays, there are over 600,000 propane-filled forklifts working around the world. These units offer various advantages. For instance, lift trucks that run on propane fuel maintain 100% consistent power during operation. Additionally, these units provide faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.