If the truck lives indoors on smooth floors and you can charge it, choose electric. If it moves between the building and the yard, hauls heavy loads, or has to keep working through a shift without stopping to charge, propane (also sold as LPG) is usually the better fit. Diesel is for open yards and farms, and not much else. That is the short version. The rest of this page covers what actually decides it on your site: the air, the ground, the shift pattern and the power supply.
Indoors, the question is exhaust
An electric forklift has no tailpipe, so there is no exhaust to clear from the building. A propane truck can work indoors, but its exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which has no colour or smell. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says adequate ventilation is needed when propane equipment runs indoors, and that you should check your own province's requirements, because ventilation rates and exposure limits vary. Its page on propane forklift hazards is worth reading before you commit. The operator manual for our LPG trucks says the same in plainer words: open windows and doors when you run it inside.
A poorly maintained engine makes it worse. So if your building is small, shut tight, or short on airflow, electric takes the question off the table. If you have big doors, good ventilation and a maintenance routine, propane is workable.
Outdoors and rough ground
Propane and diesel suit yards better than electric does. In our experience propane also pulls harder, on ramps and with heavy loads, which is why customers moving heavy pallets across a yard tend to lean that way.
Tires matter as much as the fuel. Our FL propane trucks run on solid tread tires, so they suit paved yards and warehouse floors, not loose or rough ground. For rougher surfaces look at the FD30 diesel or the FG35 with dual front tires, which both run on pneumatic tires. Our EFL electric trucks suit level outdoor yards as well as indoor work.
Where diesel fits
Diesel is mostly an outdoor choice: open yards, loading areas and farms. The FD30 has no propane cylinder to refill or swap, and its pneumatic tires cope with uneven ground. Like any combustion forklift, it needs good ventilation if you run it indoors, and most buyers keep a diesel truck outside.
Charging or swapping a tank
With propane, you run the tank down and swap or refill it. Our FL models come with a filled tank in the price, and after that fuelling is on you. How long a tank lasts depends on the truck and the work, so we do not quote hours.
With electric, you plan around the charger. None of our electric forklifts includes one. It is sold separately at $2,800 and takes a 3-phase 220V input, so confirm your building has that supply, then decide where the truck charges and who plugs it in. If your day runs from start to finish with no natural breaks, that routine needs real thought before you commit to electric.
What each costs up front
Electric costs more to buy. At 5,500 lb the electric EFL25 is $4,700 above the propane FL25T, and $7,500 above it once you add the charger. At 6,600 lb and 7,700 lb the gaps are $6,500 before the charger and $9,300 after. Running costs depend on what you pay for electricity or propane and how many hours the truck works, so work them out with your own numbers. Every model and price is in our forklift price guide.
Which of our trucks for which site
| Your site | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indoors, narrow aisles, docks | CPD15 or CPD18 (3,300 and 4,000 lb, electric) | 3-wheel trucks built for narrow indoor aisles, docks and loading bays |
| Indoors with heavier pallets, plus a level yard | EFL25, EFL30 or EFL35 (5,500 to 7,700 lb, electric) | 4-wheel trucks for warehouses, docks, loading bays and level outdoor yards |
| Inside and out on paved ground, with good ventilation | FL25T to FL45T (5,500 to 9,900 lb, propane) | Solid tread tires, filled tank included, no charging to plan around |
| Heavy pallets over mixed surfaces | FG35 with dual front tires (7,700 lb, LPG / gasoline) | Pneumatic dual front tires for traction and cushioning |
| Open yard or farm, long shifts | FD30 (6,600 lb, diesel) | Pneumatic tires, no cylinder to swap |
You can compare the full range on our propane and diesel forklifts and electric forklifts pages.
Not sure which power type fits your site?
Tell us where the truck will work, how heavy the loads are, how long it runs each day and whether you have a 3-phase supply. We will point you to the right model.
Common questions
Can I use a propane forklift indoors?
Yes, where ventilation is adequate. Propane exhaust contains carbon monoxide, and requirements vary by province, so check the rules that apply to your workplace. The operator manual for our LPG trucks calls for open windows or doors when running indoors.
Is an electric forklift cheaper than a propane one?
Not to buy. At the same capacity, the electric trucks in our range cost $4,700 to $6,500 more, and $7,500 to $9,300 more once you add the $2,800 charger. Running costs depend on your electricity and propane prices and your hours.
Which forklift is best for an outdoor yard?
Propane or diesel. Our FL trucks have solid tread tires for paved yards. The FD30 diesel and the FG35 with dual front tires have pneumatic tires for rougher ground. Our EFL electric trucks suit level yards.
Does a propane forklift come with a tank?
The FL models include a filled LPG tank in the price. The FG models have the bracket fitted but the cylinder is not included. After that, refuelling is up to you.
For help choosing, contact us with your load weight, where the truck will work and how long it runs each day.
