Roughly 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 machine from tipping over because 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 along with other electric trucks which are made for general use. Though the first investment when purchasing an electric lift truck is more than an IC or internal combustion truck, electric trucks are much less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lower maintenance and fuel expenses, than the internal combustion units.
In North America, the majority of electric rider forklifts are designed for moving materials indoors. Electric rider trucks are utilized most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric units are the best option for inside use because they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
In addition, electric lift truck can normally work a complete 8 hour shift on a single battery charge. Recharging, reloading and removing batteries, that roughly weigh approximately 3000 pounds can be time consuming and hard. This burdensome job often requires a dedicated area for battery handling. Nonetheless, new fast charging technologies are now utilized to update this method and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a much faster way.
Fast charging technologies are considered the best charging technologies. It has revolutionized electric model lift trucks and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The experts of the material handling industry, state that these new changes in the battery charging systems and battery technology can reduce charging time by as much as 50 percent!
IC Counterbalanced Lift Trucks
The IC powered forklifts would depend on types of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, CNG or compressed natural gas and gasoline. The larger forklifts are usually utilized outdoors. Generally, these units operate on gas or diesel and uses pneumatic or air-filled tires so as to make them appropriate for rough environment and steep inclines, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for indoor applications and smooth services since they are made from solid rubber.
The most popular fuel option for indoor trucks is LPG. There are over 600,000 propane-filled forklifts nowadays that are operating in DCs and within warehouses. These models offer a wide range of advantages. Like for example, propane-fueled lift trucks maintain 100 percent constant power during operation. Also, these models offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.