Manual, Semi-Electric, or Fully Electric - Which Pallet Truck Should You Buy?
02.02.2023 | Pallet Truck Guidance
As one of the most widely used material handling equipment, pallet truck or low lift trucks are in use all around the world, performing a variety of transport tasks in warehouses, logistics, or other operational areas. Essentially, these practical helpers are a transportation device that can lift palletized loads and then move them to their desired location. This straightforward operating principle requires little training, which is the main reason behind their widespread use and popularity.
When you're considering buying a pallet jack , you often face the critical question: Should it be a manual, semi-electric, or fully electric device? This question needs to be precisely addressed in the process of making the purchase decision since it determines the essential use possibilities and, consequently, the fulfillment of specific operational requirements.
The Drive Makes the Difference in Types of Pallet trucks
In the drive mechanism, you'll find the central distinguishing feature in traditional low lift trucks, as they are used in operations such as freight handling or shipping. Typically, the first thought goes to the driving mechanism, which can be operated either manually through muscle power or electrically by pressing a button. This is usually followed by the question of the lifting mechanism, which can be either purely manual-hydraulic or electro-hydraulic.
While in a manual hand pallet jack, lifting is done exclusively through manual pumping of the handle through the hydraulic system, in an electric pallet jack, there are two variants: Semi-electric models have an electric drive mechanism – but the lifting function is operated manually with the handle. Fully electric models, on the other hand, are driven by an electric drive motor – and the lifting and lowering functions are controlled by an electro-hydraulic system.
Manual Pallet Truck
Example Product: 2500kg STANDARD Rubber/Tandem PU Pallet Truck
- Manual Drive
- Manual Lift
- Load Capacities from 2300 kg to 2500 kg
- Used for handling and transporting goods, preferably with low-intensity use
- Unlimited service life with proper handling
- Maintenance and repair-friendly due to simple, easily understandable technology
Semi-Electric Pallet Truck
Example Product: 2000kg STANDARD Semi-Electric Pallet Truck
- Electric Drive
- Manual Lift
- Load Capacities from 1300 kg to 2000 kg
- Used for handling and transporting goods over longer distances with moderate use
- Operating time depends on battery capacity and charging time
- Maintenance and repairs can only be done by a specialized workshop, the manufacturer, or trained personnel within the company
Full-Electric Pallet Truck
Example Product: 2000kg STANDARD Full-Electric Pallet Truck
- Electric Drive
- Electric Lift
- Load Capacities from 1200 kg to 2000 kg
- Used for handling and transporting goods over longer distances with high use
- Operating time depends on battery capacity and charging time
- Maintenance and repairs can only be done by a specialized workshop, the manufacturer, or trained personnel within the company
What are the costs for a manual pallet jack, semi-electric pallet truck, or full-electric pallet truck in comparison to each other?
The purchase cost of a pallet truck is primarily determined by the level of technology – the more complex the technology, the higher the price. In addition, other essential decision criteria, such as load capacity, also influence the purchase cost. Devices with higher load capacity generally require a higher willingness to pay from the buyer.
When considering only the type of drive as a deciding factor in your purchase, manual pallet jacks naturally represent the most affordable entry into the pallet truck market. The purchase price for a standard device with a load capacity of approximately 2300 kg to 2500 kg (depending on the model) without additional features is approximately €300 to €400.
Semi-electric pallet truck models already come with significantly higher acquisition costs compared to purely manually operated model variants. Starting at approximately €1200 to €1400, you can get devices with electric drive and manual lift hydraulics, designed to handle loads of around 1300 kg to 2000 kg (depending on the model). The more complex technology in the form of electric drive and the frequently used lithium-ion technology in the batteries explain the significant price difference compared to traditional manual pallet trucks.
At the upper end of the price scale are fully electric pallet trucks where both the drive and the lift are controlled by an electric motor. Budget-friendly models start at around €1200 for lower load capacities of 1200 kg to 1300 kg. For a fully electric pallet truck with maximum load capacities of 1500 kg to 2000 kg (depending on the model), you'll need to invest around €1900 to €2300. There are almost no limits when it comes to higher-end electric pallet truck models with special features, and prices for purchasing such devices can reach four digits.
The use of an electric pallet truck is often aimed at making logistical processes in the workplace more efficient and significantly easing the work processes for the operator. In general, the choice of the right pallet truck model should be made based on economic considerations to avoid possible misinvestments and ensure a balanced cost-benefit ratio in the operation. Expected usage intensity is therefore a suitable decision criterion alongside the acquisition costs for selecting a pallet truck based on the type of drive.
Low Usage Intensity:
- occasional use
- low turnover frequency - a small number of pallets that need to be transported or handled in a specific time
- short in-house transport distances
Moderate Usage Intensity:
- low to moderate turnover frequency
- longer in-house transport distances, or routes with inclines or declines
High Usage Intensity:
- continuous use
- high turnover frequency
- longer in-house transport distances, or routes with inclines or declines
What to Consider When Purchasing and Using Electric Pallet Jacks?
Not all pallet jacks are the same - this statement is particularly underlined by the different drive concepts. If the decision is made to start with a manual pallet jack, there are usually no major questions regarding the requirement profile and the specific environmental conditions in the operation.
If the choice is made for an electric pallet jack, buyers must consider additional aspects. Especially if only manual pallet jacks have been used in the operation before, there should be clarity about the major concept-driven differences. These differences often become apparent only after the purchase decision in actual use, which is why they should be considered as early as possible.
Electric Drive - Vehicle or Lifting Mechanism
While manual hand pallet jacks have a simple and maintenance-friendly design, electric pallet jacks depend on external power sources. They get their power from rechargeable batteries or accumulators, which must be regularly recharged. This can lead to limitations in readiness for use when batteries need to be charged and there is no replacement available for immediate operation. It should also be noted that for recharging, special areas or stations need to be prepared - either for removable batteries/accumulators or for the entire pallet jack. The maintenance and repair of electric pallet jacks is often only possible through a specialized workshop, the manufacturer, or trained personnel within the company due to the current-carrying parts and components.
Dimensions of Pathways or Aisles
The drive technology used in electric pallet jacks requires space, which is why the dimensions are usually larger than those of a conventional manual pallet jack without electric drive. As a result, disadvantages can arise when used in very narrow pathways or aisles. These are noticeable due to the nature-related delayed response of electric pallet jacks, especially when moving forward or backward with a turned handle. This can lead to reduced maneuverability and agility, which operators need to adapt to in their daily logistic operations.
Forklift License for Electric Pallet Jacks
In addition to the familiar electric pallet jacks with a steering handle, there are also electric pallet jacks with a standing platform and steering unit. These devices are generally no longer considered walk-behind industrial trucks, which is why a forklift license or a company-specific driving permit for operating the equipment is required for the operator. However, if the standing platform can be folded up, the operation is the same as with a model with a steering handle - when using the device with the platform raised, no forklift license is required.
What are the other types of pallet jacks that use electric drives?
For internal goods transport, the choice between manual or electric drive is mainly focused on pallet or low lift trucks since they typically form the foundation for handling and transporting goods. To facilitate other logistical tasks, additional tools based on the successful concept of the practical pallet jack have proven to be useful.
A weighing pallet jack supports the capture of product and shipping weights, and it's also available as a full-electric version like the Electric Pallet Jack with Scale 2000kg STANDARD. For ergonomic goods handling or direct work on goods and cargo, a scissor lift pallet jack has proven practical in real-world applications, and you can find versions with an electric lift motor for adjusting the working height, like the Electric Scissor Lift Pallet Jack 1000kg STANDARD. There are also special stainless steel electric pallet jack models designed for goods transport in hygienically sensitive environments that meet common hygiene standards.
