What drives investment in electric forklifts?

For the facilities of certain industries such as Pharmaceutical and Food & Beverage, electric forklifts become the ideal choice for handling loads due to stringent industry standards. Even though it hasn’t been mandated, there has been a growing shift from diesel to electric forklifts across various industries. Let’s unpack what underlies this shift.

The motivation behind any business' investment in electric forklifts is the same - better return on investment arising from the savings by way of lower operational and maintenance costs. Electric forklifts don't require as much upkeep as their traditional counterparts. This simply means that you can save more money instead of spending it all on keeping things running smoothly.? Electric forklifts have relatively high initial investment, but they can be justified with their lower lifetime cost of ownership with a return on investment in about 2 years.?

Operational costs for conventional combustion-engine forklifts are high because these machines operate inefficiently. Considering diesel is priced at INR 100-110 per litre, annual fuel costs for a single shift (~8hrs) operation adds up to INR 3.5-4 lacs. And that's just fuel.?

Electric forklifts have fewer moving parts and thus require less maintenance. They also do not require a storage area for volatile fuel (like diesel), within the premises, making it a safer solution in industrial areas.

One of the most important aspects of any warehouse operation is the quality and efficiency of its material handling equipment. Progressive businesses are increasingly looking for ways to improve productivity, and this involves being up-to-date with new technology.?

Electric forklifts are not only better for the environment, but they also offer far more control and precision when it comes to operations, which means that you can utilise your warehouse space better. Electric forklifts feature an ergonomically designed operator cabin, reducing operator fatigue and allowing for a more comfortable driving experience. They also have smaller turning radii which allows for easy manoeuvrability.

Another common necessity for all forklift owners is safety. The safety of the operator, product, equipment and facility are important and the risk of injury, damage or loss is far too great to ignore. There is a lot riding on the ability to keep employees safe while they're working with forklifts. Therefore, it is important to prevent accidents before they happen. And, this can be achieved with advanced safety features available in electric forklifts.?

The safety features that electric forklifts are equipped with include -?

• Anti-Roll Back Feature - increases safety when negotiating with gradients, stops and starts the truck safely and easily on slopes
• Curve Speed Control - reduces the speed of the forklift by up to 30% on turns, enhancing stability and operator control and making operations safer
• Operator Presence Sensing - detects if the operator is seated correctly and securely, both when starting the truck and during operations, preventing unmanned and unsafe operations
• 3-Speed Modes - allows choice between three different speed modes - Slow, Normal or Fast based on the application and operator skill

If you're using a forklift for the first time, these advanced safety features can help prevent accidents by making sure the vehicle doesn't move unless you're in control. Moreover, a higher capacity battery can work for a 2-shift operation without changeover, and increases the overall safety of the operation.

Electric forklifts produce zero emissions, creating a healthier and more cost-efficient work environment within your warehouse. There are no exhaust fumes or other toxic gasses and therefore, there is no need to set up additional ventilation systems.

There's no question that electric forklifts will drive intra-warehouse mobility in the future. They're better for the environment, less expensive to operate, and much safer to work with.

Whatever your investment drivers may be, there are comprehensive material handling solutions available in the market. Godrej Material Handling, as a forward-thinking organisation, offers a vast array of new equipment options and reliable financing solutions to make your transition as simple as possible.