Kestrel Lift pushes its lithium forklift line to 8-tonne capacity
The new E80 targets steel, timber, and beverage yards that have held on to diesel trucks because nothing electric could lift enough.
Kestrel Lift has added an 8-tonne model to its lithium-ion forklift range, a capacity class that until recently was almost entirely served by diesel and LPG trucks.
The E80 uses a single 80-volt pack that Kestrel says will run a full shift of heavy yard work and recharge from 20% to 80% during a lunch break on a 400-amp charger. The pack is sealed and rated for outdoor use in rain, which the company expects will open up lumber and building-supply yards.
The case against diesel indoors
Beyond fuel costs, the biggest pull toward electric at this size is ventilation. Operators running diesel trucks inside large sheds have to manage exhaust exposure, and several regions are tightening workplace limits. An electric truck removes that problem entirely.
Kestrel says the E80 costs about 30% more up front than its diesel equivalent but expects buyers to recover that difference within four years on energy and maintenance savings. Deliveries begin in December.
- Forklifts
- Lithium-ion
- Warehousing
