Electric forklift units make up almost 60% of the entire material handling market. Powering these units are really heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their immense weight, these batteries naturally give a lot of the counterweight.
Counterbalanced trucks are classified by the ITA as Class 1 forklifts. Class 1 also includes other electric trucks designed for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced trucks. Though the first expenditure of an electric forklift is more than internal combustion lift trucks, electric models are less expensive to operate eventually. This is because of their lower maintenance and fuel costs.
Most electric lift truck units which have been made and engineered within North America, are utilized mainly in indoor settings. Electric lift trucks have traditionally been limited to indoor applications with clean and smooth surfaces. With the launch of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to utilize electric rider models in certain outdoor operations.
Because of the fact that electric lift truck units provide no harmful emissions, they are usually selected for indoor applications when compared to IC forklifts. Electric models can complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are very quiet when in operation. The batteries for electric units weigh about 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries can be burdensome and time consuming. This situation normally happens at a battery charging station or an area that is specially utilized for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies that would be available on the market and these new systems are changing the process of charging batteries.
The Proper Fit
A main factor associated with any type of forklift is utilizing the right size of model to do the specific operation. The application itself must always dictate which product is chosen.
Customers are always looking for methods to reduce their operating costs and find more effective work practices which help lessen these costs, while also improving their productivity. Utilizing the wrong size of forklift can greatly slow things down and have a huge effect on the bottom line and productivity of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
A trustworthy forklift dealer would be able to help if you are unsure about the specific kind of forklift you require. They would ask you right questions which will allow you to make a proper choice. A lot of dealerships offer rentals of their machines as well and this is a very great way to try before you commit to such a huge purchase. It is also a good way to try different units out to see which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with and which ones bring you the best production.