Electric Forklift Vs. Diesel Forklift
A forklift could be powered either by an electric motor or by an internal combustion or IC motor. Electric forklifts are suitable for indoor application and cost much less to operate. IC equipment are suitable for outdoor application and are faster to refuel.
Electric Forklifts
Electric lifts produce no exhaust, which makes them the machine of choice for indoor use where air quality is a concern. Electric forklifts are clean and quiet. They are 20% to 40% more expensive to buy compared to IC lifts, but the operating cost of electric models on a per hour basis is a lot less. The downside is that batteries require 16 hours to charge and cool down, so buying an extra set of batteries is suggested. Electric lifts are not limited for use indoors, but when used outdoors they must be utilized carefully.
Diesel Forklifts
Internal Combustion forklifts have a higher carrying capacity compared to electric forklifts and are commonly utilized for outdoor applications. If your fleet generally operates on one kind of fuel, it might be a good idea to buy an IC unit that utilizes the same fuel. They can function on gas, propane or diesel. Diesel is the most economical. IC forklifts have the advantage of being cheaper to operate and easy to refuel; then again, their per-hour cost to operate is higher. The majority of IC models cannot be utilized indoors.
Other Forklifts
Narrow-aisle electric forklifts are suitable for tight spaces inside warehouses. They are constructed to pick up loads without having to position the lift facing the stacks. Rough terrain diesel forklifts have big tires for running on hard surfaces.