Electric Forklift Vs. Diesel Forklift
A forklift could be powered either by an electric motor or by an internal combustion or IC motor. Electric forklifts are suitable for indoor use and cost less to utilize. IC equipment are suitable for use outdoors and are faster to refuel.
Electric Forklifts
Electric lifts produce no exhaust, that makes them the equipment of choice for indoor use where the quality of air is a concern. Electric forklifts are clean and are not noisy. They are 20 - 40 percent more expensive to purchase than IC lifts, but the operating cost of electric models on a per hour basis is a lot lower. The downside is that batteries require 16 hours to charge and cool down, so the purchase of an extra set of batteries is recommended. Electric lifts are not limited to indoor use, but when used outdoors they should be used cautiously.
Diesel Forklifts
Internal Combustion forklifts are for outdoor applications, and their carrying capacity is more than electric forklifts. If your fleet normally runs on one type of fuel, it may be a good idea to buy an IC unit which utilizes the same kind of fuel. They could function on gas, propane or diesel. Diesel is the least expensive. IC forklifts have the advantage of being cheaper to operate and easy to refuel; nevertheless, their per-hour cost to operate is higher. Most IC models cannot be used indoors.
Other Forklifts
In warehouses where there are tight spaces, the narrow aisle electric forklift is most suitable. They are designed to pick up loads without having to position the lift facing the stacks. Rough terrain diesel forklifts have big tires for running on difficult surfaces.