Electric Forklift Buying Guide 

We’re going to make finding an electric forklift simple, in today’s buying guide. We’ve written an extensive buying guide for 2023 but wanted to go more in-depth and take a look at each type.

Today, we’re giving you all the information you need to know about electric forklifts and how to buy the best one for you.

Why Choose an Electric Forklift?

Electric forklifts suit some people more than others. You must decide if an electric forklift will meet your needs as a business. Here are the pro and cons that you need to consider.

Overall the electric forklift is an eco-friendly solution with low maintenance and reduced long-term costs.

Who Suits Electric Forklifts and Who Doesn’t

To put it simply, an electric forklift is much better suited to indoor use. It can be used outside but not for long hours. If your business requires a forklift that can do longer hours outside, a gas or diesel model will be your best choice.

What You Need to Know About Batteries 

The main thing that sets electric forklifts apart from others is that they’re battery-powered. This makes it a lot more environmentally friendly but can make multi-shift operation a bit tricky. 

For example:

Stan has just worked his afternoon shift and spent around 6 hours on an electric forklift.

Nina then arrives for her shift, but because Stan has used 6 hours of the battery life, Nina cannot use the electric forklift. This is because it requires around 8 hours to fully charge and then a further 8 hours for a cooling period. 

Electric forklifts can be a great solution for a business, but there needs to be a clear process in place for charging them. Otherwise, you could be left without forklifts for your staff to use.

Should I Buy or Finance?

The choice is yours. Forklifts are a big investment, and the costs can amass to be quite high. Therefore, if needed finance is a good option 

We offer both payment options on our range of electric forklifts, to help businesses to spread the cost.

Electric Forklift FAQs

We’ve been around a while and in that time we’ve been asked every question possible about electric forklifts.

So here are the most frequently asked questions and their answers.

How Long Do Electric Forklifts Last?

Electric forklifts on average last between 10,000 – 12,000 hours. In short, this is about 5-6 years of 8-hour operation.

Of course, there are many variables that will affect this lifespan including the maintenance you do on your forklift and the environment in which you use it.

Can Electric Forklifts be Used in the Rain?

Electric forklifts can be used in the rain but not all models can. 

For example, Jungheinrich models are manufactured for use in the rain. It really depends on the model and what its features are. 

If you want to be 100% certain that you can use your electric forklift in the rain, it’s always best to speak to a professional like the team at Trucks Direct.

Do Electric Forklifts Produce Carbon Monoxide?

No. Because electric forklifts don’t burn any fuel, they don’t produce any carbon monoxide. This is a safety feature unique to electric forklifts and another big advantage of them.

Do Electric Forklifts use Oil?

They use hydraulic oil, but not motor oil. Since they don’t have an internal combustion, there is no need for motor oil. However, hydraulic oil is used to lift and tilt the mast and power any other hydraulic functions on the forklift.

Where Can I Find an Electric Forklift?

You can find an electric forklift at Trucks Direct. We are the number one provider of new and used forklifts in the UK. Electric forklifts are rising in popularity, and we’re ahead of the curve.

Find yours today, at Trucks Direct.