Electric vs. Internal Combustion Lift Trucks: Pros and Cons
One of the most common questions in the forklift industry is, “Should I use an electric or internal combustion (IC) forklift truck?” Choosing the right forklift for your industry can save your business both time and money.
Work environments and applications can significantly vary. It’s important to talk about the potential uses before making a final decision. Luckily, the professionals at Prana Machinery can help you with all of these major choices.
Internal Combustion Trucks
Much like the engine on your personal vehicle, an internal combustion engine works in a similar way. It requires fuel to run, usually gasoline, diesel, liquified petroleum gas, or compressed natural gas. It’s a very common engine type for forklifts for many reasons.
Here are a few pros and cons of internal combustion trucks:
Advantages
- Fast and easy gas tank replacement
- Lower price than electric (up to 20% less)
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
- Better for heavy loads long distances and ramps
- Faster
- Steady power even on an almost empty tank and easy to refuel
Disadvantages
- Low back visibility
- Fuel price is higher and constantly changes
- Fuel warehousing can be dangerous
- You can harm yourself when lifting a heavy, full tank
- In extreme weather conditions, the truck might not work
Electric Trucks
Electric forklifts are on the rise with their capabilities. They use a rechargeable battery to power the engine making them more environmentally friendly. However, this also has increased their costs upfront, but over time you may realize that you’ll be saving money without the fuel costs to consider.
Advantages
- No pollution
- Noiseless
- Fewer accessories to replace
- No transmission maintenance
- Better stability
- More effective in narrow aisles
- Better back visibility since there is no gas tank
- More effective in the food and medicine industries
- Fuel prices (power) more market stable
- Low maintenance cost
Disadvantages
- Power decreases as battery charge decreases
- The initial buying price is higher
- Less load capacity models
- In a multi-shift operation, they are not very effective
- Needs ample enough battery space to change batteries
- New batteries are needed every 5 to 10 years
Prana Machinery Is Here For Your Forklift Needs
When it comes down to choosing which forklift is best for your business, we’re here to help. No matter what industry you operate in, we know the pros and cons of every machine we have in stock. We can help take a look at your day-to-day workflow and give you all of the best options that will benefit your business.
Give us a call so we can start assisting you!