The drive motor of an electric forklift is its “heart”, and different types of motors determine the basic characteristics of the vehicle in terms of power output, efficiency, control and maintenance.At present, electric forklifts mainly use three types of DC series excitation motors, DC other excitation motors and AC asynchronous motors. Each type has its own distinctive technical characteristics and adaptation scenarios.DC series excitation motor is an earlier technology, its structure is relatively simple, the cost has advantages, and it can provide greater torque at starting and low speed, which is suitable for heavy-duty starting conditions.However, its speed regulation is usually achieved through resistors, and the energy consumption is high. The brushes and commutators require regular maintenance. When running, they are prone to electric sparks, and their use is limited in some occasions where explosion-proof requirements are required.

The DC excitation motor is an improvement on the series excitation motor.Its excitation winding is powered separately from the armature winding, allowing independent magnetic field control.This makes it have a wider speed regulation range and better speed regulation performance, the efficiency is usually higher than that of a series excitation motor, and the energy-saving effect is better.At the same time, through control technology, the regenerative braking function can be more easily realized, and part of the energy recovery during downhill or braking can be converted into electrical energy and fed back to the battery, thereby slightly extending the operating time of a single charge.Although it also has the problem of brush maintenance, it is better than traditional series motors in the balance of performance and energy consumption, and has been widely used in high-end electric forklifts.

AC asynchronous motors and matching controllers are the mainstream direction of current development.The structure of the AC motor itself is simpler and stronger, the brush and commutator are eliminated, and maintenance-free is realized, which greatly reduces long-term maintenance costs and the risk of failure in use.Its real advantage lies in the combination of advanced AC frequency conversion control technology.The controller can perform precise vector control of the motor to achieve smooth stepless speed regulation in the range from zero to the highest speed, and the sense of control is extremely stable and accurate.AC systems are usually more efficient, especially in the medium and high-speed operating range, and the regenerative braking efficiency is high, and the energy recovery effect is significant.Although the initial purchase cost may be relatively high, from the point of view of the full life cycle cost, excellent handling performance and extremely low maintenance requirements, the AC drive system represents a higher technical level and long-term value, and has become the standard or high-end configuration of many electric forklift manufacturers.