Korea's first heavy duty electric forkliftHD Hyundai XiteSolution (HDX) has announced it will be the first Korean company to launch medium and heavy-duty electric forklifts on to the market.
The forklifts are part of a new eight-model electric range, with payload capacities between 4T and 9T, “representing the first release of electric forklifts over 5T by a Korean manufacturer”, HDX states.
The electric forklifts will be released to the market in June.
They are powered by lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO) batteries, which HDX says allows them to run for 11 hours on a one-hour charge.
The new electric medium and heavy duty forklifts have been designed to be used in indoor and outdoor conditions, are waterproof and dust-proof and have a creep function.
“While small electric forklifts have gained popularity for indoor applications due to their ability to enhance working conditions by minimising noise and emissions, medium and large electric forklifts—typically used for outdoor operations—have experienced slower advancements in electrification,” HDX states.
“However, with an increased focus on carbon neutrality initiatives and significant progress in battery technology, medium and large industrial vehicles are now entering a critical phase of electrification.”
Hur Kwang-hee, head of the Industrial Vehicles Division at HD Hyundai XiteSolution, adds: “This new model represents the electrification of medium and large-sized industrial vehicles that have traditionally relied on internal combustion engines”.
Kwang-hee says HDX will hold domestic and international launches of the new medium and heavy duty electric range of forklifts.