Used Electric Forklift Oakland - Electric forklift models do not rely on combustion engines but use an electric motor instead. Electricity comes from a fuel cell or internal industrial batteries. Internal batteries often provide the electrical source. They are capable of being recharged by connecting the battery to a source that is electrically compatible. These rechargeable batteries are lead-acid or lithium-ion battery. Producing electricity with a fuel cell is similar to using a battery source; however, the fuel cell needs refueling and will bot be recharged from connecting to anything electrical.
Internal combustion engine forklift models and electrical forklifts can complete the same types of jobs. Both models utilize two power horizontal forks to load, transport and unload items. The source of power is the main difference between an internal combustion engine and an electrical forklift model. Typically, electric forklift models are used indoors in warehouses and similar facilities that cannot rely on internal combustion engines due to interior air quality.
Electric Forklift Classifications
The electric forklift truck can fall into one or more forklift truck classifications. They are:
1. Class 1: Electric Motor Rider Trucks
The Class 1 Electric Motor Rider Trucks are one of the classifications. These models have cushion or pneumatic tires. Cushion tires are generally used on smooth indoor surfaces and pneumatic tires are mostly used for exterior applications.
2. Class 2: Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks
The Class 2 Electric Motor Narrow Aisle Trucks are another classification. These units function within very narrow aisle locations with limited space. This design enables maximum storage space. Class 2 models feature a modified design to limit the amount of space the forklift takes up.
3. Class 3: Electric Motor Hand or Hand-Rider Trucks
These forklifts are hand-controlled, which means they do not ride on the forklift but rather is positioned in front of the forklift. The operator controls the forklift using a steering tiller.
4. Class 6: Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Tractors
This classification includes forklifts that allow for a broad application use. In the electric forklift version, they are usually used for indoor use or dry outdoor use.
A list of forklift trucks that are typically powered by electricity are:
Sources of Electricity for Electric Forklifts
Mostly, electric forklift models are used for interior applications on even, flat floors. Battery operated forklifts stop the emission of dangerous gases and are preferred for interior locations including food-processing facilities and healthcare. Refrigerated jobs prefer to use fuel cell forklifts. They make no emissions and are capable of working in colder locations without a power reduction, unlike battery-operated models.
Lead-acid battery
The most popular type of rechargeable battery is lead-acid models. Their capacity to supply high current surges allows for a significant ratio of power-to-weight. These affordable models consistently make lead-acid models popular batteries for electrical forklifts. However, lead-acid batteries are susceptible to freezing in colder temperatures. They also require maintenance which, if ignored, can shorten the life of the battery.
Lithium-ion Battery
A lithium-ion battery or li-ion battery is another type of rechargeable battery used in electric forklifts. Explosions or fires may result in these batteries if they are improperly charged or damaged due to the flammable electrolyte they contain. Lithium-ion batteries initially cost more than lead-acid varieties, but they provide better efficiency and require no maintenance compared to lead-acid models. Another benefit is that the lithium-ion batteries can operate with a wider temperature range and better energy densities compared to lead-acid varieties.
Fuel Cell
Forklifts with fuel-cell power showcase the benefits of both battery-operated forklift trucks and internal combustion models. Similar to battery-powered forklifts, there are no local emissions delivered from fuel cell models. One of the fuel cell power disadvantages is that they are approximately half as efficient as li-ion batteries. Fuels cell power offers better energy density and provides electric forklift trucks to run longer. Fuel cell powered forklifts also have the advantage of performing better in lower temperatures as lithium-ion batteries. Refrigerated warehouses rely on fuel cell models due to their ability to function in cooler locations.
Fuel cells need a fuel source in order to create an electrical current and need refueling. However, they can be refueled in about three minutes, whereas batteries take much longer to recharge. It is beneficial for businesses that rely on many forklifts that operate numerous shifts to use fuel cell models since they don’t have the same downtime for charging batteries.
Pros and Cons of Electrically Powered Forklifts
Advantages of Electric Forklifts
Electric forklifts are often a popular choice compared to internal combustion models if the lifting capacity doesn’t exceed 12,000 pounds. Numerous factors are considered to determine if the electric forklift truck is the most accurate choice. It is essential to discover the pros and cons of one forklift type to another prior to choosing a model.
Some of the advantages of an electrically powered forklift over an internal combustion engine are listed below.
1. Operating costs can be much lower for battery powered electrical forklifts because of the ongoing and often increasing cost of fuel.
2. Electricity costs are more predictable than fluctuating fuel costs. This makes electric forklifts are more reliable choice in terms of operating expenses and budgets.
3. Electric forklift trucks rely on recharging stations which eliminates the requirement of fuel transportation and storage for both the equipment and the job site.
4. Battery-powered electric forklift models and fuel cell electric forklifts generate no noise pollution or dangerous emissions. Both internal combustion engine forklifts and electric models have a back-up alarm that is noisy but necessary.
5. Operator fatigue and equipment wear and tear are reduced in electric forklift models with the automatic braking system.
6. Electric forklifts boast greater intervals between maintenance compared to internal combustion engine models. This is mainly because there are less moving parts required by a fuel cell or battery-powered forklift model.
Disadvantages of Electric Forklifts
For many of the reasons listed above, forklifts powered by electrical means have been more popular than power by internal combustion engines in recent years. However, there are still several applications that make electrical forklifts a less practical option. Certain electric forklift models disadvantages as compared to combustion models are listed below.
1. Electric forklifts typically have a limited lifting capacity of approximately 12,000 pounds or less which eliminates them as an option from larger jobs. Sometimes this means an internal combustion engine forklift is chosen even for jobsites where heavy jobs are few and far between but still a requirement.
2. Electric forklifts rely on battery power and require recharging stations to be installed. If there are none at the facility, this could greatly increase the overall cost.
3. Batteries also require that attention be given to the timing and length of a charge. This is because the life of batteries can be reduced if charged too frequently or not enough.
4. Electric forklift trucks are also initially more expensive than internal combustion engine forklifts.
5. In some older facilities, the electrical system may need to be upgraded to accommodate an increased voltage requirement of battery powered forklifts.
6. Battery powered forklifts sometimes require machinery to lift or lower the heavy batteries when replacement of batteries is necessary.
Electric forklift trucks have a wide range of benefits. They may not be adequate in certain working environments due to their weather and weight restrictions so check your job list accordingly.
Electric Forklift PDF
