Approximately 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric lift truck models. These units derive their power from heavy, big lead-acid batteries that give the equipment it's counterweight in order to avoid it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced forklifts are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also includes stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks in addition to other electric trucks which are designed for general application. Though the first investment when buying an electric lift truck is more than an IC or internal combustion truck, electric forklifts are less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lower maintenance and fuel expenses, than the internal combustion units.
Most of the electric rider lift trucks shipped in North America is made for moving material indoors. They are normally used in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the right alternative for inside applications because they make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
In addition, electric forklift can generally work a complete 8 hour shift on a single battery charge. Recharging, reloading and removing batteries, that roughly weigh about 3000 pounds can be time consuming and difficult. This burdensome task often needs a dedicated space for battery handling. Nonetheless, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to update this process and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a much quicker method.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has revolutionized electric unit lift trucks and the charging time of their batteries. The material handling industry professionals, state that these new developments in the battery charging systems and battery technology can reduce charging time by as much as 50%!
IC or Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Forklifts
The internal combustion powered lift truck would rely on types of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger forklifts are commonly used outdoors. Normally, these models operate on diesel or gas and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them suitable for rough environment and steep inclines, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are more suitable for smooth services and indoor use since they are made from solid rubber.
The LPG model is the most common fuel choice for indoor trucks. Today, there are more than 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks operating all around the world. These models provide various benefits. For instance, lift trucks which operate on propane fuel maintain 100% constant power during operation. Furthermore, these units offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.