Approximately 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric forklift models. These units derive their power from big, heavy lead-acid batteries which give the equipment it's counterweight in order to avoid it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also encompasses stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks as well as other electric trucks that are designed for general use. Though the first investment when buying an electric lift truck is more compared to an IC or internal combustion truck, electric lift trucks are less expensive to run and operate in the long-run. This is due to lesser fuel and maintenance expenses, than the IC units.
The majority of the electric rider forklift trucks shipped within North America is made for transporting material inside. They are commonly used in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the right alternative for inside use because of their ability to make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
The battery of an electric forklift could operate on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The reloading, recharging and removing batteries that weigh upwards of 3000 pounds could be hard and time consuming. This cumbersome task often needs a dedicated space for handling the battery. Then again, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to accomplish it in a much quicker method.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has revolutionized electric model forklifts and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The experts of the material handling industry, state that these new developments within the battery charging systems and battery technology could lessen charging time by as much as 50 percent!
IC Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The internal combustion powered forklifts would rely on kinds of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The bigger lift trucks are commonly used outdoors. Usually, these units are gas or diesel powered and utilizes pneumatic or air-filled tires so as to make them suitable for rough terrain and steep inclines, compared 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 popular fuel choice for indoor trucks. Nowadays, there are over 600,000 propane-filled forklifts operating all over the world. These units provide various benefits. Like for example, lift trucks which run on propane fuel maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. Moreover, these models provide faster ground speeds than other power sources.