Electric lift truck models make up nearly sixty percent of the whole material handling market. Powering these models are really heavy lead-acid batteries. Due to their massive weight, these batteries naturally offer a lot of the counterweight.
The counterbalanced kind of forklifts have been classed as Class 1 forklifts by the ITA. Class 1 normally refers to electric forklifts made for general applications and stand-up counterbalanced forklifts. Although the initial expenditure of an electric lift truck is more than IC lift trucks, electric models are less expensive to use in the long run. This is due to their lesser maintenance and fuel expenses.
Most of the electric rider trucks made and designed within North America are made for transporting material within 4 walls. Electric forklifts have usually been limited to indoor applications with surfaces that are smooth and clean. With the launch of some new Class 1 items, it is becoming more and more possible to utilize electric rider units in certain outdoor applications.
Due to the fact that electric lift truck units provide no harmful emissions, they are typically selected 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 unit batteries weigh around 3,000 pounds. The job of recharging, reloading and removing the batteries could be time consuming and burdensome. This situation normally happens at a battery charging zone or an area which is specially designed for handling batteries. There are developing fast charging technologies that would be available on the market and these new systems are changing the battery charging process.
The Proper Fit
Utilizing the correct size of lift truck to do the specific operation is vital to any business application. The application itself must always dictate what product is chosen.
Clients are striving to find reduce operating costs and more effective methods to reduce operating expenses, all the while increasing their overall productivity, specially as the economy becomes more competitive and complex. Utilizing the wrong size of forklift can really slow things down and have a huge impact on the bottom line and productivity of a business, while negatively affecting the productivity on the jobsite.
If you are uncertain about what particular type of forklift you require, a reliable dealer will be able to ask you the right questions which will allow you to make a correct choice. Lots of dealerships provide rentals of their machinery as well and this is a really good way to try before you commit to such a big purchase. It is also a nice way to try different units out to see which ones bring you the best productivity and which ones you and your drivers are the most comfortable with.