Nowadays, businesses strive to reduce their environmental impact and reducing CO2 emissions plays an important role in this effort. One area where businesses can make a significant difference is in the equipment they use.
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In this article, we will compare the CO2 emissions from a 2.5t lithium forklift with a 10-20 kWh battery to those of a 2.5t diesel forklift. It is important to understand first what CO2 emissions are, why these are harmful for the environment and why lithium-ion equipment is the right choice for a greener future.
Carbon dioxide emissions refers to the release of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a colourless, odourless gas composed of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms (CO2).
CO2 emissions can result from:
While natural processes do contribute to CO2 emissions, they are part of a balanced carbon cycle that has been in place for millions of years. However, CO2 emissions largely result from the burning of fossil fuels. When these are burned, the carbon stored within them combines with oxygen from the air, producing carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels for energy, have significantly increased the concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, meaning it has the ability to trap heat from the sun within the Earth's atmosphere. This trapping of heat leads to the greenhouse effect, which is responsible for maintaining the Earth's temperature and making it habitable.
When considering emissions from industrial equipment, people are often faced with the choice of Electric vs IC engine forklifts.
An IC engine Forklift is a type of forklift that uses internal combustion (IC) engine to power its operation. It can be powered by gasoline, diesel, propane or natural gas.
An Electric Forklift is a forklift that uses an electric motor powered by an onboard battery. The battery provides power to the electric motor, which drives the wheels and the hydraulic system that lifts and lowers the load.
There are different types of batteries used in electric forklifts:
Lead-acid batteries are the more traditional type of battery, however they have some limitations, such as being heavy, requiring regular maintenance, and having a slow charging time.
Lithium-ion batteries are a newer type of battery that is becoming increasingly popular. Compared to lead-acid, they are lighter, have a faster charging time and maintenance free.
Now let's take a closer look at the CO2 emissions of diesel and lithium forklifts.
Diesel forklifts are commonly used in industrial settings because they are often associated with their ability to lift heavy loads. However, diesel engines produce a significant amount of CO2 emissions both during the production of diesel fuel to power the engine, and during the internal combustion.
The process of transferring diesel to the tank for use is known as the well-to-tank process. Emissions for diesel production are about 500-600 grams of CO2-equivalent per litre. A 2.5t diesel forklift consumes roughly 2-3 liters per hour, resulting in 1,000-1,800 grams of well-to-tank CO2 emissions per hour.
When burning the diesel, it emits approximately 2,640 grams of CO2 per litre, leading to 5,280-7,920 grams of CO2 emissions per hour from combustion.
The production of a lithium-ion battery for a 2.5t forklift generates a 300-600 kg of CO2 emissions, this is a one-time emission, and the battery has a long lifespan.
This means that while the initial production of the battery has a higher carbon footprint than the diesel forklift, over its lifetime, the lithium forklift produces fewer emissions.
To compare fairly, we must also consider the CO2 emissions from electricity consumption during the lithium forklift's operation. Today, the European average CO2 intensity of the electricity mix is approximately 275 grams per kWh[GB1] . Assuming a 2.5 t lithium forklift consumes 5 kWh per hour, it results in 1,375 grams of CO2 emissions per hour.
When we compare the operational CO2 emissions, it becomes evident that the lithium forklift has significantly lower emissions than its diesel counterpart. While the diesel forklift emits 5,280-7,920 grams of CO2 per hour from combustion alone, the lithium forklift produces only 1,375 grams of CO2 emissions per hour, considering both the battery production and electricity consumption.
As we have seen, choosing a lithium-ion forklift will surely represent an advantage for the environment as its CO2 emissions are lower than those of a diesel forklift. But this is not all: lithium forklifts offer many other advantages over diesel forklifts. Here's some key points:
Compared to diesel forklifts, lithium forklifts are safer as they eliminate the risk of fuel leakage and the potential hazards associated with storing and handling flammable fuel. Furthermore, EP Equipment's Lithium-ion batteries are produced with LFP technology which, compared to NMC, offers a lower possibility of inflammation and explosion when punctures or overheated.
Diesel forklifts can be quite noisy during operation, which can be disruptive in indoor environments or noise-sensitive areas. In contrast, lithium forklifts are typically quieter and produce less noise pollution. This advantage can lead to a more comfortable and productive work environment.
Lithium forklifts often have faster acceleration and smoother handling compared to diesel forklifts. They provide consistent power delivery throughout their operating cycle, resulting in improved efficiency and productivity. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries can be recharged more quickly than refuelling diesel tanks, reducing downtime and optimizing workflow.
Although the initial purchase cost of lithium forklifts may be higher than that of diesel forklifts, they can offer long-term cost savings. Lithium-ion batteries have longer lifespans compared to internal combustion engines, reducing the need for frequent replacements or major maintenance. Moreover, electricity is often less expensive than diesel fuel, leading to lower operating costs over time.
Here at EP, we know every customer is different and has different needs. We strive to offer the right truck for every application and offer a wide range of electric counterbalance trucks.
EP produces different types of electric forklifts:
Powerful, indoor, and outdoor, inclinations, shortest turning circle. These include:
TDL201
EFS151
CPD15/18/20TVL
For the indoor application in narrow space, the small rear-wheel drive 3-wheel forklift trucks are the truck of choice. The most compact electric forklifts for sale have a working aisle of under 3m.
Powerful, mostly outdoor, these include:
CPD18/20FVL
EFL SERIES
EFX252
EFL181
EFL702/
For forklifts in outdoor applications, on uneven surfaces or for heavy loads, the 4-wheel forklift truck is preferred.
Stability of forklifts when lifting is not so much the issue, both 3-wheel trucks and 4-wheel trucks have the same stability. 4-wheel trucks are just more capable in tougher handling conditions when loading and unloading lorries or when working on uneven roads.
If you have any other questions when it comes to selecting the right forklift for your business, feel free to contact EP, we will assist you find the perfect equipment to enhance your business efficiency.
The cost of operating a forklift is always something that many customers care about when investing in a forklift. 'Is the selling price of forklift trucks commensurate with its use value?' or 'Is the total cost of ownership (investment cost + operating cost + maintenance, repair, etc.) always be considered when customers are investing in forklifts.
In addition, concerns related to forklift selection come with costs such as: 'In the long run, which type of truck is more beneficial between a diesel forklift and an electric forklift?'
1. What are the costs of operating a forklift?Are you interested in learning more about 5 ton forklift diesel consumption per hour? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
To operate a forklift, we need to determine and calculate the following costs:
Operating fuel costs
This is the issue that most people care about. Because it plays an important role in the total operating costs.
Factors affecting operating fuel costs such as: Fuel cost, engine type and engine capacity of the forklift, the use time of the forklift (the longer the forklift is used, the more it consumed fuel)'
Repair, maintenance costs
With a newly invested forklift, in the first 2 years, periodic maintenance and repair of damage which is caused by factory defects is covered by the warranty policy.
After the warranty period expires, the costs related to maintenance, repair,etc' need to be calculated in detail, including: cost for technical personnel, cost of consumables, spare parts, cost of productivity loss due to wear and tear of machinery, cost of truck rental during repair'
Operating costs are always something that many customers care about when investing in forklifts
Other costs
In addition, when operating a forklift, there are other costs such as operating personnel costs, operating safety costs, truck breakdown repair costs, forklift accidents, etc.
However, to compare operating costs between diesel forklifts and electric forklifts, the costs in this section are considered to be the same, so we only consider two main types of costs such as: fuel costs and maintenance, repair costs.
2. Operating fuel costs comparisonWe already know the difference in fuel / operating energy of 02 types of diesel forklifts and electric forklifts, that is, one side uses diesel, the other uses electricity.
Although the initial investment cost of an electric forklift is higher, considering the cost of fuel and operating energy, everyone assumes that the cost of an electric forklift will be less than a diesel forklift, in fact how?
Using a common basis for calculations, that is:
' Forklift capacity: 03 tons
' Usage period: 03 years
' Operating time/day: 8 hours
According to information from manufacturers and experience in operating electric forklifts, in 1 hour of operation, electric forklifts can consume about 5 electricity numbers, in 8 hours it is 40 electricity numbers.
Diesel forklifts have higher fuel costs than electric forklifts
Meanwhile, the operating fuel cost of a diesel forklift is ~03 liters of oil/working hour, equivalent to ~24 liters of oil per working day. With the current oil price ~ 24,500 VND/liter, the cost of operating fuel for diesel forklifts is ~ 588,000 VND / 8 hours of operation (1 day).
We can see that the fuel cost of a diesel forklift is much higher than the fuel costs of an electric forklift, however, we all know that the initial investment cost of an electric forklift is significantly higher than a diesel forklift.
3. Repair, maintenance costs comparisonInformation from manufacturers and experience from forklift operators indicates that the maintenance, servicing and repair costs of electric forklifts are also cheaper and simpler than diesel forklifts, refer the below information:
Maintenance and repair costs of electric forklifts include: hydraulic oil change, transmission oil change, gear oil change', distilled water (for lead-acid batteries), replacement or repair of the battery (if any) and other expenses.
Maintenance and repair costs of diesel forklifts include: changing filters, changing engine oil, changing hydraulic oil, gear oil and other costs.
4. Continuous operating time comparisonIt is easy to see that diesel forklifts have a higher continuous operation efficiency than electric forklifts because customers just need to add fuel then can continue to operate, while electric forklifts need time to recharge.
5. Depreciation between diesel forklift and electric forklift comparisonDepreciation of forklifts or depreciation of fixed assets are subject to the provisions of the law. Specifically, according to the provisions of Appendix 01 of Circular 45//TT-BTC, forklifts have a minimum depreciation period of 6 years and a maximum of 10 years, regardless of diesel forklifts or electric forklifts.
However, because of the peculiarities of the operating conditions of diesel forklifts and electric forklifts, there is a difference in depreciation.
Depreciation costs are also an expense to consider in the operating cost of forklifts
After using for about 6-7 years, diesel forklifts require more frequent maintenance and replacement of worn and damaged parts to be able to operate effectively.
With electric forklifts, after about 4-5 years, or about - times of charge, the battery will reach its lifespan. Customers should save the budget to replace the battery for stable working performance.
6. ConclusionAccording to the above information, combined with the practical experience of forklift operators, during the first 3 years, the cost of ownership (investment cost + operating cost) of a diesel forklift or electric forklift is almost the same.
However, in the long run, the cost of ownership for a diesel forklift is much higher, due to the large difference in operating costs.
In order to choose the suitable forklift for your business needs, many factors need to be considered. For more information on choosing a diesel forklift or an electric forklift, you can refer to the below article:
https://yale.com.vn/en/news/electric-forklifts-versus-internal-combustion-engine-forklifts'which-is-better
Please contact Yale Forklifts Vietnam via Hotline: .461.728 for the most detailed advice on forklifts in particular and handling equipment in general.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit 10 ton forklift truck manufacturer.