Electric Forklift
Electric powered forklifts are alternatives to propane, gasoline, natural gas and diesel forklifts for cleaner, quieter indoor use. They are currently considered the best type of forklift available because they offer zero emissions, less operation noise, fewer moving parts and a longer life. Stand up, narrow aisle, walkie and reach forklift trucks are mostly used indoors and are therefore often electric. They are widely used in warehouses, indoor construction sites and manufacturing facilities for loading, storage and transportation applications. While electric forklifts cannot get wet and are therefore rarely used outside, they outperform the alternatives in cold weather situations and are sometimes used outdoors in the winter. These forklifts are known to lift loads up to 15,000 pounds and provide improved indoor air quality.
Up front, the cost of electric forklifts is greater than any other kind. However, they provide the lowest lifetime cost of ownership because they do not need any fuel and last longer than internal combustion forklifts. They are powered by either fuel cells or AC or DC lead acid batteries. They last for five to six hours of continuous use, which is generally enough power to use over an eight hour shift. They save on factory space because fuel storage isn't necessary, but need space for recharging, which can last up to 16 hours. To cut down on recharging time, many forklift users choose to purchase more than one batter per forklift and alternate between them. The batteries often serve as a counterweight in forklifts, which offsets the weight of the lifting load, thus reducing the risk of tipping over.