Electric lift truck units make up almost sixty percent of the whole material handling market. Powering these units are extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their immense weight, these batteries naturally provide a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks made for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Although the first expenditure of an electric forklift is more than internal combustion forklifts, electric models are less expensive to utilize eventually. This is due to their lower maintenance and fuel expenses.
The majority of electric lift truck units which have been made and designed in North America, are utilized mostly in indoor settings. Electric forklifts have usually been limited to indoor use with surfaces that are smooth and clean. With the introduction of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to utilize electric rider models in certain outdoor applications.
Because of the fact that electric forklift units produce no harmful emissions, they are normally chosen for indoor operations when compared to Internal Combustion lift trucks. Electric units can complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are really quiet when in use. Electric model batteries weigh around 3,000 pounds. The job of reloading, recharging and removing the batteries can be time consuming and cumbersome. This situation normally occurs at a battery charging station or an area which is particularly designed for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies that will be available on the market and these new systems are changing the process of charging batteries.
The Proper Fit
Utilizing the right size of forklift to complete the specific operation is key to any business application. The application itself should always dictate which product is selected.
Customers are striving to find reduce operating costs and more efficient means to lower operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall productivity, especially because the economy becomes more complex and competitive. Utilizing the wrong size of lift truck could really slow things down and have a big impact on the bottom line and success of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
A trustworthy forklift dealer would be able to help if you are uncertain about the particular kind of lift truck you need. They would ask you right questions that would allow you to make a correct choice. Many dealerships offer rentals of their machinery too and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a nice way to try different models out to see which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best productivity.