Propane VS Electric Forklift: Which is Better

5 Things You Should Know Before Renting a Forklift
September 24, 2018
used pallet jacks
Used Forklift Buyer’s Guide
October 4, 2018
Show all

Propane VS Electric Forklift: Which is Better

There is a significant disparity between the forklifts that come equipped with electric motors and those which are equipped with propane engines. Furthermore, you should be aware that each variety of lifting device is best suited for specific different uses. Additionally, you may wonder: "What are the differences between an electric forklift and a propane forklift?" On the other hand, you should keep in mind that as a warehouse manager or a buyer of forklifts, it is crucially important that when you are deciding between purchasing an electric forklift and a propane forklift, you consider a variety of factors. Therefore, you ought to consider factors such as the type of facility that the forklift will be used in, the operating conditions for the forklift and the work cycles for the workers who will be using the forklifts. As an illustration, with an electric forklift, the braking is done electrically and automatically as soon as the forklift operator happens to take his foot off of the accelerator pedal.

Electric Forklift Advantages and Disadvantages

Consequently, you ought to be cognizant that this mechanism has the benefit of substantially reducing brake wear. On the other hand, you ought to consider that a disadvantage of an electric type of forklift is that the electronic variety of forklift will be more expensive for you to purchase. Furthermore, you should keep in mind that the octane rating of propane enables a smoother operation that will limit truck noise and vibration when you compare this type of forklift to some other powered kinds of forklifts.

Propane Forklift Advantages and Disadvantages

Another great benefit of a propane forklift is that changing a propane bottle or supplying a new propane tank will require merely a few minutes of your time. Consequently, you should be aware that a propane forklift is very easy to refuel. However, with the electric variety of forklift, there are fewer fluids that you will have to dispose of. Therefore, with the electric type of forklift, you will never need to worry about having to deal with the draining of the engine, the transmission fluids or even replacing the coolant fluids. Hence, with the electric variety of forklift, you will have less maintenance to perform when compared to some other types of forklifts. Furthermore, the selection of which industrial forklifts you should purchase is typically made with regards to multiple different criteria.

Criteria to Consider

As an illustration, you ought to be cognizant of the weight of each of the various loads that will be handled by the forklift, the ease of use that you wish for the forklift to have, and the preservation of the indoor air quality, and this last factor is especially crucial in closed work environments. Consequently, you ought to consider the fact that a propane gas forklift has many different advantages. Therefore, you should keep in mind that the propane forklift provides a more environmentally friendly type of forklift than some other types of forklifts. Remember, a propane forklift emits few dangerous particles and minimal pollution. Hence, you should be aware that use of a propane forklift will not pollute the indoor air quality of your work site. On the other hand, propane fuel may not always be readily accessible if you are working in a remote location.