Roughly 60 percent of the forklift market is made up from electric units. These models derive their power from really heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their massive weight, these batteries naturally supply much of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 lift trucks. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks designed for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Though the initial expense of an electric lift truck is more than internal combustion forklifts, electric units are less expensive to utilize eventually. This is due to their lesser fuel and maintenance costs.
The majority of electric forklift units which have been made and designed within North America, are utilized mainly in indoor environments. Electric forklifts have usually been limited to indoor applications with clean and smooth surfaces. With the launch of several new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to utilize electric rider units in certain outdoor operations.
When compared to Internal Combustion forklifts, the electric trucks are usually chosen for indoor use due to the fact they produce no harmful emissions, can usually complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are extremely quiet to operate. The batteries for electric models weigh approximately 3,000 pounds. The job of reloading, recharging and removing the batteries can be burdensome and time consuming. This situation normally happens at a battery charging zone or an area that is specifically used for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies becoming 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 using the right size of unit to do the particular operation. The application itself must always dictate which product is selected.
Clients are always looking for methods to lower their operating expenses and find more effective work practices which help reduce these expenses, while also improving their productivity. Utilizing the wrong size of lift truck can really slow things down and have a big impact on the bottom line and productivity of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
A trustworthy lift truck dealer would be able to assist if you are unsure about the particular kind of forklift you need. They will ask you correct questions that would enable you to make a proper choice. Numerous dealerships provide rentals of their machines also and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a good way to try different models out to see which ones you and your operators are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best productivity.