LPG: Bringing benefits to the forklift truck industry

Friday 2nd December 2016

There are many reasons why forklift managers will choose LPG to fuel their forklift truck fleet. Much cleaner and greener than diesel, it is a versatile fuel source that cuts air and noise pollution and, when you look at the range of benefits it brings to users compared to its diesel-fuelled and electric counterparts, it's no surprise that LPG is a popular choice:

Cleaner burning: with air quality a hot topic at the moment, the fact that LPG is a cleaner burning fuel than diesel is a key consideration. For forklift trucks used entirely or primarily indoors, it's imperative that managers reduce the pollutants that users are exposed to, and well as protecting the product and its packaging that the trucks are working alongside. LPG emissions are lead and soot free, and LPG fuelled vehicles provide up to 99 per cent reduction in NOx emissions when compared to diesel alternatives
No delay: electric forklift trucks not only sap the electricity supply, but the battery recharging charging process can take around 8 hours and battery changeovers are labour and time-intensive. LPG forklift trucks can be refuelled in a matter of minutes, delivering 24/7 operational capabilities with virtually no down time. Combined with electric forklift trucks experiencing reduced performance just before recharging and at the end of life, LPG offers a far more efficient solution
Flexibility: with its high level of emissions, diesel forklifts are not suitable for indoor use and electric forklifts are not recommended for outdoor use. As LPG emits fewer emissions than diesel, LPG forklifts can be used both indoor and outdoor, providing a flexible, all-round solution. In comparison with electric forklifts, its indoor alternative, LPG delivers higher performance and is more powerful particularly on uneven surfaces and steep gradients
Quieter: forklifts often work in noisy locations, so adding further noise poses health and safety challenges to businesses. Tests have demonstrated that LPG forklifts are up to 10 decibels quieter than diesel, reducing the overall noise operators are exposed to

Visit our case studies page to explore the benefits of LPG fuelling the forklift sector in more detail.

By Rob Shuttleworth, Chief Executive, UKLPG