Electric forklift units make up almost 60% of the whole material handling market. Powering these models are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their massive weight, these batteries naturally give much of the counterweight.
The counterbalanced version of lift trucks have been classed as Class 1 forklifts by the ITA. Class 1 typically refers to electric forklifts designed for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks. Although the initial expense of an electric lift truck is more than IC forklifts, electric units are less expensive to use eventually. This is due to their lower maintenance and fuel expenses.
The majority of electric forklift models which have been made and designed within North America, are used mostly in indoor environments. Electric lift trucks have usually been limited to indoor applications with clean and smooth surfaces. With the launch of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to use electric rider units in some outdoor applications.
When compared to Internal Combustion lift trucks, the electric trucks are typically selected for indoor use because of the fact they produce no harmful emissions, could normally complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet to run. Electric model batteries weigh around 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries could be time consuming and cumbersome. This situation often occurs at a battery charging zone or an area which is specially designed for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that will be available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging process.
The Proper Fit
Using the correct size of forklift to do the specific application is vital to any business operation. The application itself must always dictate what product is chosen.
Customers are striving to find lessen operating costs and more effective ways to lower operating costs, all the while increasing their overall productivity, particularly because the economy becomes more competitive and complex. Using the wrong size of lift truck can greatly slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and profitability of a company, while negatively affecting the production on the jobsite.
A trustworthy lift truck dealer will be able to assist if you are unsure about the particular kind of lift truck you require. They will ask you right questions that would allow you to make a correct choice. A lot of dealerships provide rentals of their equipment too and this is a really great way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a nice way to try various models out to see which ones you and your operators are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best production.