Electric and LPG forklifts GHG assessment in material handling activities in actual operational conditions

The aim of the present paper is to give a contribution on the debate regarding the environmental impact, in terms of GHG emissions, of material handling activities performed with LPG or electrically powered forklift trucks. A model of the operations performed by the trucks, based upon a decomposition approach into elementary steps, is illustrated and data drawn from technical sheets are employed, in order to evaluate the required times and the associated energy consumption. Recharging cycles of batteries and the emissions associated with recycle / reconditioning process at their end of life are also taken into account. Comparisons are then carried out for a reference storage of units. The results obtained lead to conclude that electrically powered trucks are always advantageous over LPG powered ones with the same rated load capacity in the examined range and under the stated assumptions, both under the environmental aspect and the economic point of view, with the assumed figures of the cost of energy.