There are 2 main lift truck fuel varieties and types that are mainly used in the industry: electric lift trucks and IC or internal combustion forklifts.
Typically, electric lift trucks are utilized away from the elements within indoor operations. These units are a lot easier to operate inside of a tight warehouse area. They are a lot quieter to operate and produce no emissions that have to be collected or vented.
On the other hand, IC lift trucks are great in outdoor applications and are usually used in external loading docks and construction zones. These models come with a lower upfront cost. In addition, IC forklifts are faster to refuel compared to the electric units, since their internal batteries need several hours of recharging time.
If your business does choose an internal combustion unit, the next decision which is often faced is the fuel type that you would utilize to power your equipment. There are several newer hybrid models offered on the market, but the most common fuel types are diesel, gasoline or propane lift trucks.
When in the decision process to find the right lift truck for your business, examining the advantages and disadvantages of every type of machine is a great idea. For example, will a propane lift be best for your particular application or business? Make time to read on to be able to know more.
The immense flexibility of the propane lift truck is amongst their best advantages. They are the fastest and easiest units to refill which is a great thing to consider since it drastically lessens downtime on your warehouse floor. Like for instance, electric lifts require hours to recharge and diesel forklifts need an on-site storage tank and pump system. Conversely, propane cylinders are fairly fast to swap out and need no cranes or lift to handle them.
The biggest disadvantage of propane expenses would likely be their ongoing costs. The repair costs and regular maintenance will be more frequent with these models as compared to gasoline or diesel lift trucks. Additionally, fuel costs are typically higher on propane units as composed to gas or diesel. It is important to consider the fact that fuel costs could really vary from place to place.