Comparison of monthly operating expenses of electric forklifts and fuel forklifts in small and medium-sized warehouses

Composition of monthly operating expenses for fuel forklifts

Energy consumption expenditure is the core part of the monthly expenditure of fuel forklifts. The daily operation time of forklifts in small and medium-sized warehouses is usually 3 to 5 hours. According to the average fuel consumption of fuel forklifts, the monthly fuel cost accounts for nearly 60% of the total expenditure. Under different operating intensities, fuel consumption will fluctuate, and the warehouse environment with frequent starts and stops will further increase fuel consumption.

Maintenance and repair expenses are also not to be underestimated. Fuel forklifts are equipped with internal combustion engines, and the transmission system, cooling system and other components operate quickly for a long time. Regular maintenance is required every month, including oil replacement, filter cleaning, etc., plus the replacement cost of wearing parts. This part of the expenditure accounts for about 30% of the total monthly expenditure. In addition, some areas require internal combustion forklifts to conduct regular exhaust tests, and related expenses also need to be included in the monthly expenditure.

Other expenses include forklift insurance costs, annual inspection costs, etc. This part of the cost is relatively fixed, accounting for about 10% of the monthly expenditure.

The monthly operating expenses of electric forklifts

In terms of energy consumption expenditure, electric forklifts are powered by batteries, and the cost of electricity is much lower than that of fuel. According to the same daily operating hours, the monthly electricity bill of electric forklifts is only 20 to 30% of the fuel cost of fuel forklifts. The charging time is mostly arranged during non-operating hours, which will not affect the normal operation of the warehouse.

Battery maintenance and depreciation allocation are the main expenses of electric forklifts. The battery of an electric forklift needs to be checked regularly, including electrolyte replenishment, charging system calibration, etc. The monthly maintenance cost is relatively low, but the battery has a certain service life, and the procurement cost needs to be allocated to each month. This part of the expenditure accounts for about 40% of the total monthly expenditure.

Other expenses are similar to those of fuel forklifts, including fixed expenses such as insurance and annual inspections, accounting for about 10%.

Comparative summary of monthly operating expenses of two types of forklifts

Overall, the monthly operating expenses of fuel forklifts are mainly concentrated in energy consumption and maintenance, and the overall cost is higher; the monthly expenditure of electric forklifts is mainly based on battery depreciation and electricity bills, and the total expenditure is significantly lower than that of fuel forklifts. For small and medium-sized warehouses with stable operations and fixed daily operating hours, the long-term operating cost advantage of electric forklifts is more prominent; while for warehouses with occasional high-intensity operation requirements and limited charging conditions, fuel forklifts may be more flexible.