Yale Materials Handling Corporation extends its range of electric lift trucks with the introduction of 4,000-pound capacity integrated lithium-ion powered three-wheel and four-wheel models. Designed and manufactured with lithium-ion power from the factory, the new models allow warehouses in industries like food and beverage, 3PL, and retail and e-commerce to reap the benefits of this advanced electric power source, whether transitioning from internal combustion engine-powered trucks or lead-acid batteries.

Both the ERP040VTL, the three-wheel model, and the ERP040VFL, the four-wheel model, buck the traditional approach in which a battery box replacement converts counterbalanced lift trucks from lead-acid to lithium-ion battery power. Instead, the trucks are designed from the ground up around a fully integrated, space-saving lithium-ion battery pack.

“Counterbalanced trucks in this low-capacity range are critical workhorses and operations need lithium‑ion options backed by a trusted leader in lift truck technology,” says Brad Long, Brand Manager, Yale Materials Handling Corporation. “We’re making it easier for warehouses to take advantage of lithium-ion power without having to jump through hoops to find a compatible aftermarket lithium-ion battery supplier and retrofit their trucks.”

The trucks pack the advantages of lithium-ion power, including fast charging, zero tailpipe emissions and no gassing in battery charging or maintenance processes, and lower energy costs compared to fossil fuels and lead-acid batteries. They are also strategically engineered to deliver other key benefits:

• Ergonomics – an open-space design increases operator freedom to position feet and makes for easy entry and exit, maximizing comfort and convenience
• Efficiency – Zero battery maintenance and fast charging times allow operators to focus more of their time on moving, for meaningful productivity advantages
• Stability – a repositioned center of gravity enhances drive quality and improves truck handling in corners for greater operator confidence and performance

 The trucks join the Yale lineup of factory-integrated lithium-ion lift trucks, which already include pneumatic and cushion tire models in the 5,000 to the 6,000-pound capacity range, as well as a 15,500 to 19,000-pound capacity series.