Electric lift truck units make up nearly 60% of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their massive weight, these batteries naturally provide a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 lift trucks. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks made for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Though the first cost of an electric forklift is more than IC lift trucks, electric units are less expensive to use in the long run. This is due to their lower maintenance and fuel expenses.
The majority of the electric rider trucks manufactured and designed in North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric lift trucks have traditionally been limited to indoor applications with smooth and clean surfaces. With the launch of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider models in certain outdoor operations.
When compared to IC lift trucks, the electric trucks are typically chosen for indoor use because of the fact they provide no harmful emissions, can often complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are extremely quiet to operate. The batteries for electric units weigh approximately 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries could be time consuming and burdensome. This situation usually happens at a battery charging post or an area which is specifically utilized for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies that will be available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging process.
The Right Fit
A main factor associated with any type of lift truck is utilizing the correct size of model to do the particular application. The application itself must always dictate which product is chosen.
Customers are striving to find lessen operating costs and more effective means to reduce operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall productivity, particularly because the economy becomes more competitive and complex. Utilizing the wrong size of lift truck can really slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and productivity of a company, while negatively affecting the production on the jobsite.
A good forklift dealer would be able to help if you are unsure about the specific type of lift truck you need. They would ask you right questions that will enable you to make a correct choice. Lots of dealerships offer rentals of their equipment also and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a big purchase. It is also a good way to try various units out to see which ones bring you the best production and which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with.