Forklift gas, mainly composed of propane, is the most common fuel for heavy lift trucks. Gas forklifts are cheaper to buy but cost more to operate than electric models. They emit toxic exhaust and are designed for outdoor use. Despite this, they are popular due to portability, safety, and higher horsepower.
Forklift gas is a form of propane mixed with other compounds to varying degrees. The most common form of forklift gas is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which, in the United States and Canada, is largely composed of propane. As of 2011, in European countries, it can have up to 15% of other components such as butane, sulfur and propylene. LPG and pure propane are derived from petroleum and natural gas refining processes and are the most common category of fuel for heavy lift trucks.
Gas forklifts are less expensive to purchase than their electric counterparts, as they don’t require the long-lasting, rechargeable batteries an electric forklift depends on. The cost between these two main forklift types can be balanced out depending on usage levels, as using a gas forklift will cost more to operate in the long run than an electric model. Additionally, an electric forklift will only operate for six to seven hours and then require up to 16 hours to recharge, which can cause bottlenecks in production. LPG-powered forklifts do not have these limitations as long as the fuel supply is plentiful.
One of the downsides of burning forklift gas is that it produces toxic exhaust byproducts, so these machines are designed primarily for outdoor operation. An electric forklift can be used indoors with zero emissions. A propane forklift, or one that runs on gasoline or diesel, will emit carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and more, although propane is a slightly cleaner fuel than gasoline or diesel.
Despite the long-term cost increase and pollution factor, LPG forklifts are the most common in the industry. This is due in part to the portability and safety of storing propane fuel tanks on site as opposed to gasoline or diesel. A machine that uses forklift gas also has much more horsepower than an electric counterpart and can lift up to 52 tons, where the maximum lifting capacity for an electric forklift is between five and seven tons.
Of all the types of forklifts available, those that run on forklift gas lead the way in every application where power and long-term operation demands are high. Their superior performance tends to outweigh the fact that they can have adverse long-term health effects in operators who are exposed to fumes full time. Other workers who have to be in their constant vicinity, both indoors and out, are also exposed to harmful gas emissions from forklift trucks.
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