Forklifts by Fuel Type
Choose a fuel type band to see every model in the database that matches, with the full specification for each.
Fuel type decides more about a working day than any other single line on a specification sheet. Electric trucks emit nothing where they work, run quietly and cost less per hour in energy, but they need charging time or a battery change and they lose capacity as the pack ages. Internal combustion trucks refuel in minutes and do not care about a long shift, at the cost of exhaust, noise and ventilation requirements indoors.
Between the combustion options, LPG is the usual choice where a truck moves between inside and outside work, and diesel dominates yards, timber and anywhere the ground is rough and the loads are heavy.
The honest comparison is cost per hour across energy, maintenance and the shift pattern rather than the purchase price, which is what our electric versus LPG and electric versus diesel guides work through.
What each power source is good at
| Power source | Best for | Back in service after | Indoors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Indoor work, clean environments, predictable single or double shifts. | A battery change in minutes, or a charge measured in hours. | Yes, with no exhaust to ventilate. |
| LPG | Trucks that move between a building and a yard through the day. | A cylinder change, a few minutes. | Only with adequate ventilation. |
| Diesel | Yards, rough ground, heavy and continuous outdoor duty. | Refuelling, a few minutes. | No. |
| Dual fuel LPG / petrol | Occasional or standby use, cold starts, hire fleets. | A cylinder change or refuelling. | Only with adequate ventilation. |
Purchase price is the least useful way to choose between these. Cost per hour across energy, maintenance and the shift pattern is what separates them, and that is what the electric versus LPG versus diesel calculator works out from your own figures.
This table is editorial guidance on choosing between the options, not a measurement. The specification figures for any individual truck are on its own page, each with the document it was taken from.