Approximately 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric lift truck models. These models derive their power from heavy, huge lead-acid batteries which which prevents the equipment from tipping over since it acts as the counterweight.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced trucks are considered Class 1 forklifts. The category of Class1 also includes stand-up counterbalanced trucks in addition to other electric trucks which are designed for general use. Although the first investment when you purchase an electric lift truck is more than an internal combustion or IC forklift, electric trucks are less expensive to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lower maintenance and fuel costs, compared to the internal combustion or IC units.
The majority of the electric rider forklift trucks shipped in North America is made for transporting material indoors. They are normally used in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the right choice for inside applications since they make less noise and emit zero toxic emissions.
The battery of an electric lift truck could run on average for 8 hours or for a single shift. The recharging, reloading and removing batteries that weigh upwards of 3000 pounds can be difficult and time consuming. This cumbersome job often requires a dedicated area for battery handling. However, new fast charging technologies are now used to update this method and change the procedure to be able to accomplish it in a much quicker way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has changed electric model lift trucks and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The professionals of the material handling business, state that these new changes within the battery technology and battery charging systems could reduce charging time by as much as 50%!
IC Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The internal combustion powered lift truck will depend on types of fuels, such as LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG and gasoline. The bigger forklifts are commonly used outside. Usually, these models are diesel or gas powered and uses air-filled or pneumatic tires so as to make them suitable for steep inclines and rough environment, as opposed to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for smooth services and indoor use as 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 forklifts working all around the globe. These units offer various advantages. For instance, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100% constant power during operation. Furthermore, these units offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.