Approximately sixty percent of the lift truck market consist of electric units. These units derive their power from extremely heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their massive weight, these batteries naturally provide a lot of the counterweight.
The counterbalanced kind of lift trucks have been classed as Class 1 forklifts by the ITA. Class 1 normally refers to electric lift trucks designed for general use and stand-up counterbalanced forklifts. Even if the first expenditure of an electric lift truck is more than IC forklifts, electric units are less expensive to utilize in the long run. This is due to their lesser fuel and maintenance expenses.
Most of the electric rider trucks manufactured and designed within North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric forklifts have traditionally been limited to indoor use with smooth and clean surfaces. With the introduction of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming increasingly possible to utilize electric rider units in certain outdoor applications.
Due to the fact that electric lift truck models provide no harmful emissions, they are typically chosen for indoor applications when compared to IC lift trucks. Electric models could complete a full 8 hour shift on one battery charge and are very quiet when in operation. Electric model batteries weigh approximately 3,000 pounds. The job of reloading, recharging and removing the batteries can be time consuming and burdensome. This situation normally happens at a battery charging zone or an area that is specially utilized for handling batteries. There are evolving fast charging technologies becoming available on the market and these new systems are changing the method of charging batteries.
The Right Fit
A main factor connected with any type of lift truck is utilizing the right size of unit to do the specific operation. The application itself must always dictate which product is chosen.
Customers are striving to find lower operating costs and more efficient methods to reduce operating costs, all the while increasing their overall productivity, especially as the economy becomes more complex and competitive. Using the wrong size of forklift can greatly slow things down and have a big impact on the bottom line and profitability of a company, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
A trustworthy forklift dealer would be able to assist if you are unsure about the particular kind of forklift you require. They would ask you right questions which will enable you to make a correct choice. Many dealerships offer rentals of their equipment too and this is a really good way to try before you commit to such a large purchase. It is also a nice 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.