Electric lift truck units make up nearly sixty percent of the whole material handling market. Powering these models are very heavy lead-acid batteries. Because of their massive weight, these batteries naturally give much of the counterweight.
The counterbalanced kind of lift trucks have been classed as Class 1 lift trucks by the ITA. Class 1 usually refers to electric lift trucks designed for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced lift trucks. Though the initial expenditure of an electric lift truck is more than IC lift trucks, electric units are cheaper to utilize in the long run. This is because of their lower fuel and maintenance expenses.
The majority of the electric rider trucks manufactured and engineered in North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric lift trucks have usually been limited to indoor applications with surfaces that are smooth and clean. With the introduction of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to use electric rider units in certain outdoor operations.
When compared to IC forklifts, the electric trucks are normally selected for indoor use because of the fact they provide no harmful emissions, can normally complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are very quiet to operate. Electric model batteries weigh roughly 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries could be time consuming and burdensome. This situation normally occurs at a battery charging station or an area that is specially used for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that would be available on the market and these new systems are changing the method of charging batteries.
The Proper Fit
A main factor associated with any type of lift truck is using the correct size of model to complete the specific operation. The application itself must always dictate which product is chosen.
Clients are always looking for means to lower their operating costs and find more effective work practices that help lower these costs, while also improving their productivity. Using the wrong size of forklift can greatly slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and profitability of a company, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are uncertain about what specific kind of forklift you require, a reliable dealer would be able to ask you the right questions that will enable you to make a correct selection. Many dealerships offer rentals of their machines as well and this is a great way to try before you commit to such a large 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 productivity.