Electric forklift trucks are an environmentally friendly product for moving material. This is important indoors where fumes from internal combustion engines could injure employees.

Today's electric fork lift trucks for material handling use high voltage batteries, typically 36 and 48 volt. This is converted into AC for smooth travel and lift. The higher voltages give more travel and lift speed and do not affect the load capacity of the truck. AC (alternating current) motors require less maintenance than DC and they can be totally enclosed.

The three types of electric trucks are 3-wheel, 4-wheel, and stand up models. The 3-wheel design options are limited to 5,000 pounds and are more agile than the 4-wheelers. The 4-wheel trucks go up to 15,000 pounds capacity in some models. If space is tight, the stand up models offer the best choice. They are limited to about 2,000 pound capacity.

Electric forklift trucks require a battery charge station. If the truck is in constant use, a second battery may be needed to keep the forklift running.