LPG is the compromise choice, and it is a reasonable one. It is cleaner than diesel and can work indoors with adequate ventilation, it costs less to buy than electric, and it refuels in the time it takes to swap a cylinder.
Where LPG wins
- Multi-shift operations without charging infrastructure. Swapping a cylinder takes a couple of minutes. No second battery, no charging room, no shift planning around the charger.
- Mixed indoor and outdoor work. An LPG truck can go out into the yard and come back in; an electric truck on cushion tyres generally cannot.
- Lower capital outlay. Purchase price is typically below an equivalent electric truck, and there is no battery to replace.
Where electric wins
- Running cost per hour, in most electricity and gas markets – though this is exactly the assumption you should test with your own prices rather than take on trust.
- Air quality and noise. No exhaust at all, and a markedly lower noise figure at the operator’s ear. Compare the noise level row between an electric and an engine-powered model in the database.
- Maintenance. No engine oil, filters, spark plugs or exhaust system.
- Food and pharmaceutical handling, where combustion is often simply not permitted.
The ventilation question
“LPG can be used indoors” is true with a condition attached: adequate ventilation. That is a site assessment, not a product feature, and it is the buyer’s responsibility. If your building cannot meet it, the comparison is over and the answer is electric.
Comparing the running cost honestly
Two mistakes are common. The first is comparing fuel cost per hour and stopping there, which ignores the battery replacement that an electric truck will need. The second is comparing purchase prices and stopping there, which ignores the several thousand operating hours that follow.
The calculator handles both: it spreads the battery over its life, applies charging losses to the electric option, and tells you how many years a higher purchase price takes to pay back.