If you had to compare an electrical Forklift and a diesel one (same

Lorenzo Ruiz de Mena
Consultor freelance y Project manager en LRM Consultoría logística
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If you had to compare an electrical
Forklift and a diesel one (same
specifications both), in terms of
cost. What would you say?
Aside form the pollution facts, I'm interested in the differents cost: puchase, maintenance, cosumption (if you work 24 h/day)...
I've heard that the electrical one is cheaper but I'd like to have some objective data to justify it. Thanks.
Anunciado hace 22 horas | Borrar debate
Comentarios (11)
1. Ted Swinford
Territory Manager at Sunbelt Industrial Trucks
In considering the initial investment, I would think the Diesel to be less
expensive than the electric. The overall fuel cost for the electric, not
considering initial battery and charger investment, would be less.
Maintenance on the Diesel would be higher in a controlled
setting.Typically though, they are used in wildly different environments
and applications. In order to give a thorough assessment, additional
details of the application would be required.
2.
Frank Numan
Career Advisor - Self Employed & Freelance
This is to short Lorenzo. Like Ted's feedback more specific information is
required. Diesels are based on outside usage, but nowadays
Dieselengines with particle filters can be used inside. Preferably electric
trucks are used inside. What when used both in & outside. Heay Duty
Environment of for example logistics @ pharmacy. Also drivers influence,
thus: various drivers of same driver on same truck, which will be more
dedicated?...Life time elctric is about 12.000 hours approx. Diesel can be
15.000 hours.
3.
Mark Benedetto
Corporate Operations Manager at U. S. Materials Handling Corp.
I agree with Ted there is additional information needed to make a
comprehensive assessment of the customer’s needs. Most of the IC
conversions have been LP gas to electric; we have converted two
customers from LP gas to Electric in the past year. The savings is
realized through both fuel costs and maintenance costs. I ran some quick
numbers: 1) the cost of the electric truck with battery & charger is around
25% more than a diesel truck. 2) Maintenance on the electric truck is
around 25% less than the diesel. 3) Overall fuel costs are 80% more for
a diesel truck but do not forget that you technically buy all your fuel up
front with an electric truck in the purchase of the battery. In a 5 year
period with cost projections and amortization the electric truck will equal
the cost of the diesel truck around the 3.5 year mark – after that the
diesel truck will cost more to operate the vs. the electric.
There are safety factors involved with both types of trucks, fumes from
the diesel, storage & spillage to name a few. On the electric side would
be charging areas – gassing from the batteries & battery retraction from
the trucks if needed. There are very specific requirements and
applications for each customer, some application will work with electric
and some will not.
1. Nick Lamarand
Account Manager at Briggs Equipment
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All. Here is a link that allows the user to plug in some variables and see the cost
difference for electric vs ic forklifts.
MUY BUEN LINK
http://et.epri.com/LiftTruckComparison_with_cap.html
Hope this helps
Anunciado hace 10 horas | Responder en privado
2.
Vince Nolan
Owner, Handling & Storage Concepts, Inc
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This is a great discussion and it has been addressed numerous times in
the past. But technology is changing. First, one must consider overall
costs of ownership when deciding between electric or IC. Does your
customer want to be in the forklift business or the bulk storage business?
Lease 2 trucks to your customer with the lowest monthly payments for 24
months. This will keep the hours low and repair costs lower. Buy an
additional powertrain warranty and your costs should be negligable. But
for discussion sake, newer model electrics with all AC components and
correct battery and charger configurations will operate in a 24 hour
facility with only 2 batteries. Obviously, the purchase price will be much
greater than that of a traditional IC forklift. This discussion is electric vs.
diesel. Strange that the customer has only 2 forklifts. Where does the
diesel come from? You certainly don't have fuel onsite for only 2 forklifts,
so you now have additional costs of transportation or delivery of fuel. LP
would make more sense than diesel and electric more than both if initial
costs is not a factor. Weather should not be a factor, since most electrics
built today can withstand any conditions with proper specifications.
Overall maintenance costs for electrics are greatly less than IC. IC
engines do not necessarily have longer lives than electrics. I have seen
IC trucks with over 30000 hours and electrics still running from the 70's.
Again, lease (FMV) your client 2 forklifts with high residual for 24 months
with maintenance and repeat as long as they are in business. Then, have
your service dept. take care of them and you will have a client for life.
1.
Lorenzo Ruiz de Mena
Consultor freelance y Project manager en LRM Consultoría logística
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If you have a look to the link that Nick sent us, you'll see that you can
have an idea of the cost with a few paramenters. The most complicated
parametes y the maintenance cost/ operation hour. By default, It says
2$/hour in the diesel and 1.25$ in the electrical (that's 40% less).
Do you have any estimatios of that parementer? It'll be richfull for all of
us to know that value for different companies.
Anunciado hace 1 mes | Borrar comentario
2.
Mark Benedetto
Corporate Operations Manager at U. S. Materials Handling Corp.
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The cost per hour is the value generated by total operating costs of the
truck divided by the hours the truck is being used. Total operating costs
are the costs of maintenance, fuel and any repairs made to the truck. On
the electric truck especially the new AC trucks there are less moving
parts (no engine or motor brushes) thus less chance of a mechanical
breakdown. I have seen from 25% to 35% less in maintenance costs with
electric trucks. The factors involved in keeping the costs down would be
environment, frequency of the maintenance and how qualified the
technician is that is working on the equipment. A good technician can
make all the difference in helping your customer and increasing profits
for you. This would be true for both gas and electric. The average hourly
cost of $1.25 per hour is a good base for a normal use application - less
than 2000 hours per year. If you can maintain a truck for that you are
doing well. When you get over $2.00 per hour then you need to start
looking at your operation to see where the costs are going.
Do not forget about battery maintenance – a good PM Service on your
batteries will keep them running 5 plus years as long as your customer
uses the proper charging, watering and cooling procedures.
I do like Vince Nolan ‘s approach 2 years and out and the maintenance
costs and batteries will not be an issue.
Anunciado hace 1 mes | Responder en privado
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Christoph Trzoska te ha enviado un mensaje.
Fecha: 17/11/2009
Asunto: BETR: If you had to compare a electrical Forklift and a diesel one (same specifications both), in
terms of cost. What would you say?
Dear Lorenzo,
in general you can assume that an electric forklift trucks will be cheaper from 800 - 1000 working / hours a
year on regarding an IC truck, having in mind that an electric fork lift truck has less maintance costs,
energy costs (10 cents / kwh or less)etc., but depends also on the calcluated lifetime. Our experiences and
daily studies which we are presenting to our customers say, that we have difference of 10 - 15 % between
an EC and IC truck.
enclosed you find our internet link from the United States where you can try to find a out by yourself.
http://www.lift-truck-cost-tool.com/Source/TCOMain.aspx
If you need further information do not hesitate to contact me here in Spain best regards