ELECTRIC v LPG FORKLIFTS: STARTLING FUEL FOR THOUGHT

There is a slow and silent engine revolution happening around Australia and it’s being driven by cold hard cost savings – electric forklifts. So here are some startling figures ‘powering’ the great Electric v LPG forklift debate…

Based on a standard 2.5 ton lift capacity forklift being used for 25 hours per week:

Internal Combustion (IC) Unit – Average Lifetime Costs

Fuel: 5 x hours per LPG exchange bottle at $40 per bottle x 5 bottles per week x 52 weeks per year x 5 years for an average forklift lifetime = $52,000 for fuel.

Service & Maintenance: Costs about $1.70 per hour x 5 hours per day x 5 days per week x 52 weeks per year x 5 years for an average forklift lifetime = $11,050 in total.

So the TOTAL COST to own and run this IC unit for 5 years is:
Purchase price: $24,500 + Fuel cost: $52,000 + Service cost: $11,050 = $87,550

Electric Unit – Average Lifetime Costs

Today’s new electric forklifts boast AC operating systems, great performance, longer running times and smart chargers. They are 20% more expensive to buy but are 30-35% cheaper to maintain.

The ‘fuel cost’ is just the battery charging for around $6 per night x 5 nights per week x 52 weeks per year x 5 years for an average forklift lifetime = $7,800 in total.

So the TOTAL COST to own and run this electric unit for 5 years is:
Purchase price: $29,500 + Charging cost: $7,800 + Service cost: $7,000 = $44,300

That’s a saving of $43,250 over 5 years!

If the forklift only gets used for one hour per day – this saving is still around 20%…

Of course, not all industries and workplaces suit electric forklifts. They cannot really operate outdoors because they get rain-damaged, their lift capacity only goes up to around 2,500-3,000kgs, plus the battery needs replacing after 5-7 years and they’re not cheap.

But battery power is worth serious consideration with the added bonus of a better working environment free from petrol, LPG or diesel emissions and much quieter engines.