Whether it is a freezing winter or a hot summer, warehouse and yard operations must be carried out quickly and effectively every time. If, as a business owner, you do not accept compromises and strive to manage your business efficiently, you will certainly be interested in an electric forklift. This type of device is suitable for work in all conditions, is efficient, and is not afraid of precipitation or low temperatures!
A few to a dozen or so years ago, electric forklifts were not as popular. Entrepreneurs avoided purchasing them mainly due to concerns about high operating costs, limited lifting capacity, or short battery life cycles. With the application of increasingly newer technological solutions, electric forklifts have not only become as popular as internal combustion forklifts but have even overtaken them in the race for the top spot.
Ecological and efficient electric forklifts
Currently, electric forklifts are the most frequently chosen material handling equipment in their entire category. Why?
- first of all, they do not emit dangerous and harmful exhaust fumes, so they can be used without worry inside buildings / halls / rooms;
- furthermore, the side battery exchange in the devices makes the process faster and more efficient;
- also, charging an electric forklift battery no longer takes as long as it used to. Batteries are much more efficient and (especially new ones) discharge slowly;
- the capabilities of electric vehicles match the lifting capacity, speed, or lifting height of internal combustion forklifts;
- electric vehicles perform significantly better in winter conditions.
Working with an electric forklift in winter
It is no secret that winter surprises drivers every year. It is worse when the same pattern applies to forklift operators! Fortunately, if you have electric forklifts in your company, you don’t have to worry!
Internal combustion forklifts – both gas and diesel are more exposed to the negative effects of sub-zero temperatures in winter. In their case, both the gas cylinder and a nearly empty fuel tank can freeze in the cold!
This problem does not occur with an electric forklift, which handles work in low temperatures very well. However, one must, of course, remember to provide it with a dry parking space in a building or under a shelter and an appropriate, safe space for battery charging.
What is very important – forklifts themselves can be very helpful for… snow removal! Therefore, if the access road to the company, internal roads, or even the storage yard have been snowed in, a forklift equipped with appropriate attachments instead of forks – specifically a snow blower – will handle them. The device acts like a mini snow plow, clearing roads and enabling other vehicles to pass.
However, how to cope in a situation where the surface is covered with ice and driving a forklift becomes unsafe and unstable? There is a simple solution to this problem too! Just equip the forklift with:
- tire chains – in the case of pneumatic tires;
- tire studs – in the case of elastic tires.
It is important that a forklift whose wheels have studs mounted can also enter a building, e.g., a warehouse, on them. However, an electric forklift equipped with wheel chains must have them removed every time before entering the interior of a building.
How to protect against frost and rain?
Atmospheric precipitation or low temperatures are not just a reason to take care of the condition of the forklift. It is also very important to ensure appropriate working conditions for operators who operate forklifts outside every day. For this purpose, a forklift cabin enclosure will be helpful, which will allow shielding the interior of the forklift from rain/snow or frost.
Additionally, if an electric forklift works outside both in winter and summer, it is worth equipping it with air conditioning, which will provide heat or cold depending on the needs.
And although all these amenities may seem quite expensive, it is worth thinking about them and providing employees with both safe working conditions and high comfort.
Advantages of an electric forklift
In addition to the features characteristic of electric forklifts mentioned at the beginning, it is worth mentioning their other advantages, which can be an additional incentive to choose electric forklifts.
This includes, among others:
- quiet, unobtrusive operation – electric forklifts emit up to 10-15 dB less noise than internal combustion forklifts;
- high maneuverability – thanks to their small size, electric-powered forklifts are very maneuverable and easily perform maneuvers in small spaces;
- high lifting capacity – the maximum lifting capacity of an electric forklift can be as much as several tons (everything depends, of course, on the device model).
Furthermore, parts for forklifts (especially those of popular brands) are easily available on the market, so even if it becomes necessary to replace a component or fix a fault, it can be done very quickly and efficiently.
Other electric-powered vehicles
Counterbalanced electric forklifts are not the only vehicles that owe their drive to efficient batteries. This group of devices also includes:
- pedestrian electric pallet trucks;
- electric pallet trucks with a platform for the operator;
- electric pallet trucks with a seat for the operator;
- electric pallet trucks with a mast;
- articulated electric forklifts;
- reach trucks.
Electric drive can also be possessed by mobile elevating work platforms – however, these are used more for lifting people than loads and storage.
As for the price, an average (but from a good company) electric forklift is positioned somewhere in the middle between simple and quite cheap pallet trucks and efficient, advanced reach trucks. The same applies to the efficiency of these devices, which work best in medium-storage warehouses.
Electric forklift – also in your company!
If you decide to purchase an electric forklift, remember to choose equipment covered by a long warranty and solidly made (such as devices from brands like Manitou or Toyota). Thanks to this, it will serve efficiently in your company for many years, and you will not have to worry about repairs or frequent replacement of components.
If, however, you cannot afford a new electric forklift, take advantage of the offer of used vehicles covered by a warranty, which you can find, for example, here.