The fundamental issue is that there are significant savings that are possible with a used forklift. For example, purchasing a brand new, electric warehouse forklift with standard capacity will run in today’s market about $15,000-$25,000. Add to this the $2,000 to $5,000 needed to purchase a battery and its charger. Finding a similar IC (internal combustion) forklift will run from $15,000 to $30,000. Either forklift can run much more based on how it is configured and its lift capacity.
Compare this to the cost of buying a well refurbished used electric forklift with a 3,000 pound capacity will cost between $5,000 and $10,000. A used IC forklift with a 5,000 pound capacity will run in today’s market from $10,000 to $15,000 or a 30% to 50% savings.