If your warehouse specialises in food or medical supplies, or is fully enclosed, then you'll most likely need to utilise electric forklift hire for all of your material handling needs. Quieter and with essentially zero emissions, electric forklifts are the ideal choice when the noise or pollution from diesel models won't cut it.
Like their diesel or LPG counterparts, electric forklifts are available in a range of shapes and sizes, and picking the right one will come down to what suits your warehouse or handling needs. The most common forklift you'll see on the market is the counterbalance forklift.
These utilise the weight of the engine and/or battery to act as the counterweight to the load. This ensures the forklift doesn't tip or fall over when you're lifting or moving items around the jobsite. The maximum load weight will vary depending on the forklift you choose to hire, so make sure you talk to your chosen hire company to double check your forklift will be able to handle the weight you need.
While some heavy machinery will typically have a lower operating capacity when battery powered, you'll find there's actually a great selection of power electric forklifts to hire. In fact, for a lot of makes and models there's very little power difference between diesel and electric versions of the same forklift. Of course, electric forklifts tend to be superior in indoor environments, while diesel forklifts will generally be the better option for outdoor or rough terrain use.
One of the biggest benefits of electric forklift hire is not having to pay for diesel or gas to operate the machine. Diesel and gas can be incredibly expensive, to refueling adds up over the years, especially if you have multiple forklifts in your fleet.
Of course, electric forklifts will need to be charged, and this will increase your electricity bill. However, this cost is usually substantially lower than a comparable diesel forklift, so you will still see savings in the long run. One important note is to think ahead with your charging.
Electric forklifts can take anywhere from 4-12 hours to fully charge, so if your machine goes flat in the middle of your workday, it probably won't be able to adequately charge before the day is over. Hiring multiple forklifts is a great way to ensure this doesn't happen. As you can simply switch to a different machine if the first one goes flat.
Want to know what electric forklift hire options are available in your area? Contact your local hire expert to discuss their availability and hire rates. They will be able to give you suggestions on which makes and models will best suit your needs.
