Electric forklifts are growing in popularity. Recent advances in batteries and motor technology has improved their performance and made them a suitable option for a wide range of applications. Electric forklifts come with many benefits, but there are a few issues to consider. Let's take a closer look and see if they're the right choice for your company.
Advantages of electric forklifts
1. No onsite emissions. Unlike diesel and propane models that use internal combustion (IC) engines, electric forklifts produce zero tailpipe emissions. This makes them friendlier for the environment and safer for indoor workplaces.
2. Simple to operate. With electric forklifts, you just plug them in to charge and they're ready to go. No need to store, handle and dispose of messy fuel tanks.
3. Less maintenance. Electric forklifts lack an engine and transmission and have fewer moving parts overall than IC models. That means lower maintenance requirements, fewer repairs and, potentially, less downtime.
4. Improved maneuverability and safety. An electric forklift battery weight acts as a steady counterbalance to the forklift's compact size. Also, less vibration can reduce user fatigue.
5. Quieter operation. The amount of noise produced by an electric forklift in operation is roughly equivalent to normal conversation, making them much quieter than IC models.
Issues to consider
1. Higher initial cost. Electric forklifts can cost more to purchase than their IC counterparts, and they require a charging infrastructure. However, the reduced maintenance and refueling costs can more than make up for that over time.
2. Cold temperature performance. Cold temperatures can reduce run time on electric forklifts using standard lead-acid batteries. However, lithium-ion batteries aren't as severely affected by cold. Forklifts using these batteries would be more suitable for cold storage applications.
3. Wet weather challenges. Electric forklifts can potentially suffer damage operating in heavy rain or other wet conditions. Most newer models, however, come with waterproof sealed battery packs and motor housings that allow that allow them to operate rain or shine. Heavy-duty electric forklifts for outdoor applications are also available.
Overall, electric forklifts offer multiple advantages over conventional models that can save money, improve sustainability and help lift your operations to another level.