In the world of material handling, electric forklifts are quickly becoming the go-to solution for businesses aiming to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. With advanced technology, electric forklifts offer numerous advantages over traditional models, including quieter operations, lower emissions, and minimal maintenance needs. Whether you’re operating in a warehouse, distribution center, or industrial site, understanding the pros of an electric forklift can help you make a smarter, more sustainable investment.
Nowadays electric forklifts are booming in popularity, but do they fit your requirements? We lay out the Pros to help you make an informed decision before shifting to the electric forklift.
Are you thinking you should make the switch to an electric forklift? Many other electric cars have seen improvements in their technology to the point they can be as reliable as gas engines. But can the same be said for forklifts?
Will they be able to survive the stress of moving heavy loads around a project all day? Could the battery survive while you're in the middle of an important job? What alternate plans do you need to put in place if any unwanted scenarios arise?
Depending on the business you're in, an electric forklift can give many financial and environmental perks. However, it's not the perfect solution for all companies or situations. If you're looking to buy a new forklift, you should weigh up these Pros, so you're not left in shock by your purchase.
There are a lot of benefits of an electric forklift that are identical to cars, such as no noise and producing zero emissions while it's in operation. But some advantages are very impactful to forklifts you might not have considered.
No Exhaust to Toxic Fumes
Not only do electric forklifts produce zero carbon emissions, but they also don't produce any harmful gas fumes like their LPG and diesel variants. This feature makes them ideal for indoor use, especially around items like edibles that are sensitive to pollution. It's also better for other people around as they won't be breathing in anything harmful.
Low Maintenance
No engine or transmission in electric forklifts is why they don't require a lot of maintenance like their fuel alternatives. The only components you'll need to service are the moving parts, drive motors, and the battery. The servicing intervals are very long too, which means less interruption to your day-to-day work.
Better Rear Vision
Electric forklifts don't have a Propane tank sitting on the back of the truck. In fact, nothing is taking up space or blocking your vision from the back, much to the delight of safety inspectors. Instead, the battery is placed under the operator seat to counterweight the forklift allowing you to have complete 360-degree visibility when you need it.
Some other Electric Forklift Advantages
There are various other reasons to consider before shifting to an electric forklift. Some of the most famous reasons businesses have picked one up are the following:
- Various Lift capabilities can reach up to 40,000 lbs.
- There's no need for fuel storage on site as you only need space for a charging station
- Electricity costs are much lower as compared to fuel prices
- Automatic braking vehicles help reduce wear and tear on the machinery
- No requirements to replace, refill, or dispose of harmful chemicals such as engine, gear oil, or coolant fluids
- It has a better lifespan of around 15,000 hours compared to 12,000 for gas models
- Electric forklifts have much faster acceleration due to there being no lag time in getting power from the motors to the wheels
- The chassis is relatively smaller - which improves turning into narrow areas and reduces the risk of damage to the surroundings