Around 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric lift truck units. These units are powered by heavy, huge lead-acid batteries which give the machinery it's counterweight in order to prevent it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced forklifts are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced trucks in addition to other electric trucks that are made for general use. Though the first investment when you buy an electric lift truck is more compared to an IC or internal combustion lift truck, electric forklifts are a lot less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is due to lower fuel and maintenance costs, compared to the IC units.
Most of the electric rider lift trucks shipped in North America is designed for moving material indoors. They are normally utilized in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the best option for inside applications due to their ability to make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
The battery of an electric lift truck can operate on average for 8 hours or for one shift. The recharging, reloading and removing batteries that weigh upwards of 3000 pounds can be difficult and time consuming. This burdensome task often needs a dedicated space for handling the battery. Nevertheless, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to change the procedure and update this process to be able to accomplish it in a much quicker way.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has changed electric model lift trucks and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The professionals of the material handling industry, state that these new developments in the battery charging systems and battery technology can lessen charging time by as much as 50 percent!
IC or Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The IC powered lift truck will depend on types of fuels, such as LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger forklifts are normally used outside. Generally, these units are gas or diesel powered and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them suitable for rough terrain and steep slopes, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for indoor applications and smooth services since they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG model is the most popular fuel choice for indoor trucks. These days, there are over 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks working all around the world. These models provide numerous advantages. Like for example, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100% consistent power during operation. Also, these models offer faster ground speeds than other power sources.