There is no doubt the world is looking for cleaner and more responsible products to use in nearly every facet of life. So it only makes sense that the users of forklifts would also be looking at alternative and cleaner burning fuel sources. Electric Forklifts fit these criteria. They not only reduce the carbon footprint, but also use less energy, cost less to operate and in many instances, provide as much power (if not more) as their Internal Combustion counterpart.
Electric Forklifts represent nearly 60% of the forklifts in the market today, up from 45% twenty years ago, and for good reason. Breaking down the Hard-Cost benefits and the Soft-Cost benefits quickly open ones eyes to why the the trend has increased so much.
Hard-Cost benefits are those we can easily measure and calculate for comparison to their current operation. The three we focus on are fuel, maintenance and economic life.
1. Fuel- since Electric Trucks run on batteries and normal recharge cost are less than 20% of the equivalent LP cost, customers can avoid paying for more expensive fuels.
2. Maintenance- it's well documented that Electric Trucks require substantially less maintenance. The engine, transmission and even regular brake jobs are eliminated from the equation with Electric Trucks. Also with the introduction of AC technology and the elimination of brushes, contactors and commutators, fewer parts need to be replaced, equating to even more reduced operating costs.
3. Economic Life- the economic life of the Electric Truck is about 20% to 30% longer than an IC truck due to the drastic reduction in moving parts. So an IC truck with the life of 5 years equates to an Electric Truck with a life of 6 to 7 years.
Whether an end-user purchases or leases an Electric Truck, the annual cost to operate that piece of equipment is significantly lower.
Soft-Cost benefits are those benefits that exist but may vary in economic importance and impact depending on the end-user.
1. Emissions- at the majority of manufacturing and distribution facilities forklifts work dock areas. If it is cold and the dock is sealed, traffic from multiple lifts can cause quite a build up of carbon monoxide. Electric Trucks have no harmful emissions, eliminating that problem.
2. Environmental Impact- the environmental impact of an Electric Truck is more than just not having emissions. They don't have engine oil, transmission fluid, radiator fluid and filters that have to be changed and disposed of on a regular basis. These waste items are very harmful to the environment. By operating with a typical Lead-Acid battery the waste is eliminated. The battery is 100% recyclable.
3. Noise- the reduction of noise pollution in the workplace is becoming an important concern for many. From Safety (being able to hear clearly verbal communications) to Health (significantly reduced decibel levels), switching to Electric Trucks makes sense.
Despite all of the aforementioned benefits of using Electric Trucks, there have been some valid reasons/hurdles why some end-users could have chosen not to switch. Most of the major hurdles have been addressed in recent years.
1. Older Electric Trucks could not perform as well as Internal Combustion trucks. Today, because of AC motor technology, Electrics are able to perform side by side with IC trucks. The North American standards are still for 36- and 48-Volt electrical systems. Recently introduced into the market is an 80-Volt that outperforms with great success.
2. Can Electric Trucks get wet? In the past you never wanted and Electric Truck to get wet. Today we have Electric Trucks with pneumatic tires on them that are designed to go outside, travel up and down ramps (better than an IC truck) and operate in the rain.
All of the those past restrictions are gone.
There has never been a better time to "Go Green" and take advantage of the advancements made in operating and Electric Fleet. By doing so, you will have a safer and cleaner facility, reducing your operating cost and carbon footprint. The icing on the cake is while doing all of this you will improve the profits of your operation.
Contact Lee Marsh to help evaluate your Fleet, whether it is 1 or 100, to start your savings today.
lmarsh@tri-liftnc.com or call 336-691-1511.
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