Diesel Forklifts Versus Electric Forklifts
A forklift can be powered either by an electric motor or by an internal combustion or IC motor. Electric forklifts are suitable for indoor application and cost much less to operate. IC machines are suitable for outdoor use and are faster to refuel.
Electric Forklifts
Electric lifts produce no exhaust, that makes them the machinery of choice for indoor use where air quality is a problem. Electric forklifts are clean and are not noisy. They are 20% to 40% more expensive to purchase compared to IC lifts, but the operating cost of electric models on a per hour basis is less. The downside is that batteries need 16 hours to charge and cool down, so purchasing an extra set of batteries is recommended. Electric lifts are not limited for use indoors, but when utilized outdoors they should be utilized cautiously.
Diesel Forklifts
Internal Combustion forklifts are for outdoor use, and their carrying capacity is more than electric forklifts. If your fleet usually runs on one kind of fuel, it may be a good idea to buy an IC unit which utilizes the same type of fuel. They can run on diesel, gas or propane. Diesel is the least expensive. IC forklifts have the advantage of being cheaper to operate and easy to refuel; nonetheless, their per-hour cost to operate is higher. Most IC models cannot be utilized indoors.
Other Forklifts
Narrow-aisle electric forklifts are suitable for tight spaces within warehouses. They are designed to pick up loads without having to position the lift facing the stacks. Rough terrain diesel forklifts have large tires for running on hard surfaces.