Electric lift truck units make up nearly 60 percent of the forklift market. These units derive their power from huge, heavy lead-acid batteries which give the machinery it's counterweight so as to prevent it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 lift trucks. The category of Class1 also includes stand-up counterbalanced trucks in addition to other electric trucks which are designed for general use. Although the first investment when purchasing an electric forklift is more than an IC or internal combustion forklift, electric lift trucks are less expensive to run and operate in the long-run. This is because of lesser maintenance and fuel expenses, than the IC units.
Within North America, most electric rider forklifts are designed for transporting materials indoors. Electric rider lift trucks are used most frequently in retail spaces, and warehousing applications. The electric models are the right choice for inside applications since they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
The battery of an electric forklift could run on average for 8 hours or for one shift. The reloading, recharging and removing batteries which weigh upwards of 3000 pounds can be difficult and time consuming. This burdensome job often requires a dedicated area for handling the battery. However, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a a lot faster way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has revolutionized electric unit forklifts and the charging time of their batteries. The material handling industry experts, state that these new changes in the battery technology and battery charging systems could reduce charging time by as much as 50 percent!
IC or Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
Internal combustion lift trucks rely on a range of different kinds of fuels, including liquid propane gas or LPG, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG and gasoline. The bigger lift trucks are commonly utilized outside. Usually, these models operate on gas or diesel and utilizes air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them suitable for rough environment and steep slopes, 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 common fuel choice for indoor trucks. These days, there are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks operating all around the globe. These units offer various advantages. For example, propane-fueled lift trucks maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. What's more, these models offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.