How to Choose the Right Forklift Fuel

When choosing a forklift to make your warehouse operations run as smoothly as possible, it’s important that you’re buying one that can be fueled as affordably and as easily as possible. This might vary depending on your industry or the facilities you have available throughout your premises, but how do you know which fuel type is right for your warehouse? We’ll take you through the different solutions available to you together with their pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.

Lead acid battery electric-powered forklifts

Lead acid battery electric-powered forklifts can be powered by either a single fuel cell that sends power to the motor or a single battery. Electric forklifts do not emit fumes, which makes them ideal for use indoors or in a small warehouse premises.

They can also be used in food handling industries, such as catering, as well as in settings where a lot of people are nearby. However, there is a lithium ion battery electric forklift option available should a lead acid battery forklift not be for you, but we’ll get onto that in a moment.

Benefits of lead acid battery electric-powered forklifts

In summary, there are many ways in which a lead acid battery electric-powered forklift can help you. Some of the benefits of having one of these high-quality machines at the helm of your operations includes, but are not limited to, the following:

• They’re incredibly eco-friendly as they do not give off any emissions
• They turn in smaller, tighter circles making them ideal for use in compact spaces
• They come in three and four-wheeled models, meaning that you can manoeuvre this forklift in a way that seamlessly meets your needs
• They’re designed to be user-friendly
• They’re constructed with a low centre of gravity, meaning they’ll be solid and stable, even when lifting considerable loads
• They can be used indoors
• They’re mechanically simple, as there isn’t a transmission or a torque converter, for example

Disadvantages of lead acid battery electric-powered forklifts

There are some disadvantages to lead acid battery electric-powered forklifts, as expected. But in order to make sure you’re making the right decision, it’s important that you’re aware of their cons. In summary, here are the cons of a lead acid battery electric forklift:

• Batteries can take up to 8 hours to charge fully
• Downtime can be experienced should the battery need changing
• Additional costs could be incurred to ensure the battery is kept in top condition
• You might need extra batteries if the forklift will experience a lot of use, but spare batteries are costly
• It can take anywhere between 10 and 45 minutes to change a battery
• They shouldn’t be used outside

Lithium ion battery electric-powered forklifts

Lithium ion battery electric-powered forklifts are innovative and relatively new to the material handling market. As such, it might have a more hefty price tag than the aforementioned electric forklift, but they will charge quicker, meaning less downtime and, as a result, more efficient warehouse operations.

Benefits of lithium ion battery electric-powered forklifts

There are several advantages to choosing a lithium ion battery electric-powered forklift over other electric forklift alternatives. Some of the ways in which you can benefit from one of these innovative machines are as follows:

• They deliver consistent voltage and, therefore, power, enabling full charge when compared to lead acid battery electric forklifts
• It takes no time at all to charge up fully
• There’s no cooling down period that needs to be experienced, allowing for higher levels of productivity and efficiency
• The battery can be charged even should a forklift operator take a 15-minute lunch break, making it far more convenient
• There’s less downtime to be experienced
• The batteries are maintenance-free

Disadvantages of lithium ion battery electric-powered forklifts

As with most pieces of warehouse equipment, there are some disadvantages to be experienced with a lithium ion battery electric-powered forklift. Some of the cons you should consider are as follows:

• The initial cost can be considerable
• Regular monitoring will be needed to ensure consistent current and accurate voltage measurements
• When it comes to disposing of the battery, it will cost more to recycle than a lead acid battery
• An additional counterbalance weight might be needed in order for it to lift considerable weights

LPG-powered forklifts

LPG is a gas that can be produced by mixing a wide range of different products together, including butane, propane and other chemicals. It’s artificially produced and enables the forklift to be used either inside or outdoors, depending on what you need to get the job done. An LPG forklift can lift heavy weights and can run for longer than an electric forklift. Often, those working on loading docks will opt for an LPG forklift over other alternatives thanks to their versatility.

Benefits of LPG-powered forklifts

LPG forklifts are incredibly useful, no matter the industry you work in. They’re one of the most common forklift fuel types as they’re more powerful than an electric forklift but are far more eco-friendly than its diesel counterpart. Some of the ways in which you can benefit from an LPG forklift includes:

• They’re widely available
• They’re flexible and versatile, so you can use them indoors or outside
• They can be refuelled quickly compared to charging an electric forklift
• It can operate for longer than an electric or a diesel forklift
• You will not need spare batteries, which come at a price
• They give off very low emissions
• There’s less tax to pay on LPG fuel
• LPG fuel is non-corrosive, non-toxic and is free from additives, making it incredibly safe to use

Disadvantages of LPG-powered forklifts

Despite the considerable amount of pros that come with an LPG forklift, there are a few disadvantages that need to be discussed if you’re considering buying or hiring an LPG forklift. Those cons include the following:

• There will likely be higher maintenance costs
• You may need to establish additional storage to keep the vehicles safe as they should not be kept indoors
• They’re more costly to power than electric forklifts
• It has a lower fuel-efficiency than a diesel forklift
• LPG tanks will need to be manually lifting and handled, which could increase the number of accidents you experience in the workplace if the right training isn’t given

Diesel-powered forklifts

Diesel forklifts are considered to be the most powerful machines on the market. They’re robust and are often built larger than their counterparts. They’re often used in industries such as construction, manufacturing and engineering, to name a few. Diesel forklifts are used outdoors only as they give off emissions that would be harmful to people if used inside. As they’re so powerful, they’re used to lift and transport considerable loads with complete ease.

Benefits of diesel-powered forklifts

Although we have already touched on a few of the benefits a diesel forklift has to offer, there are some that you might not have otherwise thought about. In addition to being powerful and robust, some other pros include, but are not limited to, the following:

• They have a higher torque than other fuel types, meaning a diesel forklift will make short work of even the heaviest of loads
• They’re incredibly reliable
• Diesel forklifts are more fuel-efficient than LPG forklifts
• They have lower running costs when compared with LPG forklifts
• Refuelling can be done quickly and efficiently

Disadvantages of diesel-powered forklifts

Although there are a wide range of benefits to be experienced by having a diesel forklift in your reliable fleet, there are some disadvantages that you should be made aware of before deciding to buy or hire a diesel forklift. The cons of a diesel forklift includes the following:

• Diesel fuel can become more expensive with the market, which means, at times, it might be more expensive than LPG fuel
• The engines are load
• They give off emissions that are harmful to those nearby
• They cannot be used inside
• You might need to find or build extra storage for diesel forklifts are they should be kept outdoors in a sheltered environment
• It contains more consumable parts which means they’ll have to be replaced or repaired more regularly
• They’re heavier than other forklift types, making them harder to manoeuvre

Multy Lift has over three decades of experience in the material handling industry. We have been providing customers throughout the UK with a wide range of high-quality warehouse machines, no matter the industry they work in or the size of their budget. If you would like more information about the forklifts we’re able to provide, get in touch with a member of our professional, specialist team today – we’re always pleased to hear from you.