Yale Materials Handling Corporation has extended its range of electric forklifts with the introduction of 4,000 lb. (1,800 kg) capacity integrated lithium-ion 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, retail and e-commerce to reap the benefits of this advanced electric power source. 

Both the ERP040VTL, the three-wheel model, and the ERP040VFL, the four-wheel model, are designed from the ground up around a fully integrated, space-saving lithium-ion battery pack.

“Counterbalance 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 join the Yale line-up of factory-integrated lithium-ion lift trucks, which already includes pneumatic and cushion tyre models in the 5,000 to 6,000 lb. (2,000 – 2,700 kg) capacity range, as well as a 15,500 to 19,000 lb. (7,000 - 8,500 kg) capacity series.