While electric machines do incur an initial price premium , for those ready to make the switch they also generally offer a lower Total Cost of ownership ( TCO ), thanks primarily to the fuel savings . Electric truck technology continues to advance at remarkable speed and previous limitations are improving every day . The battery changeover process , for example , has been refined to the point where it can take as little as five minutes on the latest Cat machines .
Do also keep an open mind about the different battery technologies – Lithium-ion and Lead Acid – both of which remain highly relevant depending on the application and environment .
Richard Root , National Sales Manager at Impact Handling notes : “ Although 90 % of the electric truck conversation is about Lithium-ion , it still only represents around 20 % of sales ”. This fact is supported by the UK Materials Handling Association , whose 2023 figures show that 72 % of all all-new electric equipment sales are specified with Lead Acid batteries . The largest uptake of Lithium-Ion batteries being in the powered pallet truck segment , where the split is approaching 50 / 50 .
Don ’ t lose sight of what really matters When considering new equipment , it is very easy to overlook the factors that are the most critical to the business . Namely reliability and up-time . Many operations will grind to a halt if the material being handled cannot be moved , or if the goods cannot be loaded . And the cost of this interruption can be significant .
This is why the choice of service provider and the quality of their equipment may just be the single most important MHE decisions you make . So , look carefully at the geographical reach of your supplier ’ s service network and at their response time . At Impact we have over 250 dedicated service engineers , who are deployed as a mobile response force , equipped with state-of-the-art service vans , carrying stock of all common service parts . Collectively this team provides nationwide coverage and industry leading response times . This is supported by regional depots which hold comprehensive parts inventories , all configured for rapid delivery .
Make sure you carefully appraise your supplier and make sure that they can respond to your needs and locations . Try to choose a supplier for the long term . Avoid those who are just looking for a one-off sale , they will not be motivated by your best interests .
As Richard Root from Impact adds : “ A common mistake we see is the overestimation of the capacity of a truck required for a given application . This results in the customer paying more than they need for a machine that will subsequently cost more to run and maintain , with no practical benefit to the business .”
Flexibility is your friend We are living in a fast-moving world and that demands a fleet that can respond to , and keep up with , that rate of change . Flexibility , in all its forms , from your MHE supplier has never been more important .
The ability to change your fleet during the term of your agreement is a good example , as Richard Root explains :
“ The benefits of our flexibility were really highlighted during the COVID pandemic , when we were able to support customers whose needs changed dramatically , almost overnight . It allowed them to rapidly change the profile of their fleet to meet their new needs , without cost penalty .”
A flexible supplier will also give you more options when you come to plan your fleet , as Richard continues :
“ A good supplier will be able to offer you a wide range of new equipment from high quality brands . They should also carry a strong fleet of short-term hire machines to supplement the core fleet as and when required AND at short notice . At Impact we run a fully approved refurbished programme too , meaning we take the best equipment coming out of contract and refurbish it back to its original specification . Giving customers yet another purchase option .”
Financial flexibility is also an important consideration . Balancing long term rental contracts versus outright purchase with maintenance agreements , or even hybrid models can provide yet more areas for a business to realise economies and savings . Self-funding suppliers , like Impact , can offer greater financing flexibility too , so be careful to do your homework here as well .
So , in summary , there is more to choosing the right equipment than you might at first think . However , the right supplier can do most of the leg work for you , without any additional charge , and the effort will be well worthwhile .
Approached correctly , the outcome has the potential to deliver benefits to all areas of your fleet , operation and business , and to do so while reducing costs – now that ’ s ’ True Value ’.
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For further information , visit www . impact-handling . com .
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