When to Buy an Electric Forklift

Differences Between Electric and Gas Forklifts

An electric forklift is a necessary and important piece of equipment in a warehouse. Electric forklifts can also be used in places like retail stores for carrying goods out on pallets for workers to stock on shelves. There are many indoor uses for electric forklift trucks such as anytime material handling needs to be done, particularly material on pallets.

An electric-powered forklift truck is the only type that can safely be used indoors. So if your company needs to use a lift truck anywhere inside, you'll need an electric model. A diesel forklift or even a propane-powered forklift should not be used indoors. Some propane models claim that they are safe to use indoors in very well ventilated areas, but very often they're not worth the risk. They're a little more powerful than electric lift trucks but usually not enough to warrant the risk of the fumes.

Any fuel-powered lift truck or any fuel-powered engine isn't safe for indoor use because of the exhaust fumes. These types of lift trucks are designed for outdoor use not only because of the fumes but because the engines can better stand up to outdoor conditions. The engines are just like those found in cars and trucks. Indoor lift trucks with their electric engines simply could not stand up to the rigors of moisture and dirt found outdoors.

Features of the Electric - Powered Forklift

Electric lift trucks also have cushioned tires which are solid rubber and designed for indoor work over flat, solid surfaces. The tires on fuel-powered lift trucks have deep treads and are pneumatic tires designed for rough terrain.

Electric lift trucks also come in a variety of styles to better fit your company's needs. You can choose a narrow aisle forklift, for instance. Unlike a standard forklift, a narrow aisle forklift is designed to be able to maneuver in anywhere between 6 to 10 feet. A standard forklift requires a minimum of 11 feet between shelves and obstacles. A narrow aisle forklift is ideal when a company needs to maximize storage space. These lift trucks can be driven down an aisle and driven straight back out because the forks are on the side. Also called side loaders, these lift trucks don't even have to be turned in order to be usable.

Order Pickers

Companies that need electric lift trucks may be able to utilize those, or they may need something called an order picker. An order picker is a type of narrow aisle lift truck that doesn't just raise the forks to remove and replace pallets, but the operator is lifted along with the platform. This equipment is ideal for the company that fills orders because the operator can easily remove items from a palette instead of having to remove the entire palette. Of course, a business that can use an order picker will also need a lift truck that can raise the pallets to the high shelves like a narrow aisle lift truck or a standard lift truck if the aisles are more than 11 feet apart.

Cyndi Lundeberg is a writer and aspiring news broadcaster based in San Diego, California. She writes extensively for Resource Nation, an online resource that provides expert advice on purchasing and outsourcing decisions for small business owners and entrepreneurs.