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 best for indoor use and cost less to operate. IC machinery are best for use outdoors and are faster to refuel.
Electric Forklifts
For indoor use, where the quality of air is a concern, the electric forklift is the ideal equipment you could use because it produces no exhaust. Electric forklifts are quiet and clean. They are 20 - 40 percent more expensive to purchase compared to IC lifts, but the per-hour operating cost of electric models is much less. The downside is that batteries require 16 hours to charge and cool down, so buying an extra set of batteries is recommended. Electric lifts are not limited for use indoors, but when used outdoors they must be used carefully.
Diesel Forklifts
Internal Combustion forklifts are for outdoor applications, and their carrying capacity is higher than electric forklifts. If your fleet normally operates on one kind of fuel, it may be a good idea to buy an IC unit that uses the same fuel. They could function on propane, diesel or gas. Diesel is the least expensive. IC forklifts have the advantage of being less expensive to operate and easy to refuel; nevertheless, their operating cost on a per hour basis is higher. The majority of IC models cannot be used indoors.
Other Forklifts
Narrow-aisle electric forklifts are recommended for limited 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.