By: Martin Boyd
The days of saying propane and diesel forklifts cannot be replaced with electrics are all but over in today’s world. As electric cars, SUVs, and pickups have all gained considerable acceptance and are beginning to proliferate throughout the market, so too has its distant cousin – the industrial forklift.
Electric sit-down counterbalance forklifts have been around for many decades, but significant productivity shortcomings and high maintenance pains associated with outdated lead acid battery technology powering such equipment served to undermine any real momentum towards electrification. The recent entrance of industrial lithium-Ion batteries with fast charging capabilities has been an absolute game-changer in empowering customers to leapfrog over all the pains associated with lead acid powered forklifts.
Here are three considerations when determining if electrification is right for you and your operation.
Why Change from IC to Electric?
The “Why Change” question should come to mind first when evaluating whether making the switch to electric is right for you and your operation. Depending on your operation, your corporate initiatives and even the state you operate in, there are many reasons that now might be the best time to electrify.
-
Lower Operational Costs
Electric forklifts can save you up to 50% on maintenance costs and you can save 80% on fuel savings. With legislation forcing many to electrify, and sustainability inspiring those to make the switch, one of the most compelling and often overlooked “Why Change” arguments favoring electrics is its ability to significantly reduce your operational costs. The cost to operate and maintain an internal combustion forklift fleet is very expensive compared to electrics.-
Maintenance
First, electric forklifts have considerably fewer moving parts than its internal combustion rival. Less parts equals less maintenance and since preventative maintenance intervals are commonly twice as long as internal combustion powered forklifts, many operations can expect to see up to 50% reduced maintenance costs. -
Fuel
Electric forklifts have proven to be more energy efficient than IC forklifts. The volatility in oil prices and regional differences in fuel costs makes it challenging to define a specific fuel savings, but it’s not uncommon to experience an 80% savings in fuel by making the switch to electric. -
Life
Extending the usable life of the forklift is an excellent way to spread costs out over time. Electrics have been proven to have a longer usable life than IC forklifts and over time will have a significant impact on improving fleet efficiency and reducing overall costs.
-
Maintenance
-
Legislation
Were you aware that in starting in June 2024, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved the adoption of the Zero-Emission Forklift Regulation? All organizations using forklifts in the state of California should educate themselves on the regulation, but at a high level, starting in 2026 it will no longer be possible to take deliveries of large spark ignited (LSI) gasoline and propane powered forklifts? While some may feel sigh of relief knowing they don’t have a forklift fleet in California, it’s smart to think, “what starts in California doesn’t end in California”.
Learn more at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/zero-emission-forklifts
-
Green Thinking
Regardless of the industry, many companies around the world feel growing responsibility to safeguard the environment by incorporating sustainability goals in their corporate initiatives. Transitioning your fleet of IC forklifts to electrics powered by lithium represents one of many ways corporations can make progress in reaching their sustainability goals. Not only will electrifying your forklift fleet make a noticeable dent in your carbon footprint, but the benefits will directly impact those working on and around forklifts.
-
Improved Working Environment
With lithium batteries come several attributes which allow the market to completely avoid the pains of lead acid.- A highly productive environment is an improved work environment. Lithium-Ion batteries maintain their high levels of performance between charges, unlike lead acid solutions, which become sluggish as the battery discharges.
- Lithium-Ion batteries are a solid-state technology that does not use electrolyte, therefore eliminates risks associated with washing, servicing or maintaining lead acid batteries.
- Lithium-Ion batteries do not fume during charges, thereby eliminating the need for costly and space consuming ventilation systems.
- Lithium-Ion batteries are designed to be a single battery per truck solution which means no more battery swapping, no more battery charging rooms and no more complex and costly battery change-out systems.
- Advancing to a lithium-Ion forklift fleet empowers operations to avoid losing valuable real estate which would have been otherwise used for lead acid battery storage, maintenance and management.
Why is Now the Best Time to Consider Making the Switch to Electric?
-
Legislative Pressures Won’t Stop
Even with the 2024 elections behind us and a new administration coming into power, now is still the best time to consider making the switch to electric. There’s an old quote that says, “As California goes, so goes the nation”. California is always expected to lead the nation in driving sustainability and green initiatives. There are many other states keeping a close watch on the recently passed California’s Zero Emission Forklift Regulation with approximately 9 of those states looking to adopt similar measures by 2030.
-
With Lithium-Ion, it Simply Makes Sense to Make the Switch
There is no doubt the biggest barriers to electrification in the past revolved around technology, more specially the lead acid battery. With numerous attributes designed to overcome all the pains associated with lead acid battery technology, the recent entrance of lithium has shattered all the myths surrounding the once-believed conclusion that electric forklifts cannot replace their IC counterparts. With lithium representing a solid bridge toward electrification, a high percentage of operations using IC lift trucks will now be empowered to experience all the benefits of going electric.
Why Big Joe is your best partner when electrifying your fleet?
We realize the market has many choices when making the important decision to make the switch to electric. At Big Joe, we strive not only to be your first choice in electrification, but also your partner for life. A decade ago, Big Joe recognized the bridge to electrification passed over dated lead acid battery technology. Our years of investment and experience developing and manufacturing our own lithium-Ion batteries has proven to pay dividends in quickly securing our position as the market’s electrification leader.
-
Our Focus is Lithium-Ion
Our broad and growing line of lithium sit down counterbalance forklifts purpose-built around a proven industrial lithium-Ion battery designed and manufactured by us. With Big Joe, there’s no more having to choose a lithium battery from a wide array of suppliers all with their own chemistry and technologies. With our vertically oriented supply chain and manufacturing processes, we control costs and pass the savings to you. With our integrated battery design, our engineers have freedom to deliver an overall forklift design which improves operator comfort and maneuverability leading to an overall more productive and efficient operation.
-
Charging Flexibility
All of Big Joe’s sit-down counterbalanced forklifts have been designed to accommodate a wide array of application intensities. For instance, all Big Joe sit-down counterbalance forklift offerings come standard with onboard single-phase charger – ideally suited for operations or applications where the battery can be slowly charged when idle. Furthermore, all Big Joe integrated lithium-Ion sit-down forklifts are compatible with industrial 3-phase chargers which charge fast and charge often. Perfect for 2 and 3 shift operations where the operator can often “top the tank” during shift changes, lunch breaks and other times where the forklift is idle.
-
Extensive Capacity Offerings
Big Joe’s lithium sit-down counterbalance forklift capacities range 3,500 to 10,000 lbs. We offer 3 Wheel, 4-wheel cushion tire and 4-wheel pneumatic tire models
As a market leader in lithium-Ion forklifts with over 70,000 units in use across the globe, let Big Joe improve today’s operations with tomorrow’s technology. The time is now! Don’t wait! Call to schedule a demo and discover how partnering with Big Joe’s can help you navigate toward a more productive, more efficient, and more sustainable future.