For decades, diesel has been the default choice for Irish construction sites. Tough, powerful, and built for the outdoors, diesel forklifts got the job done. But with fuel costs rising, emission restrictions tightening, and more construction work moving indoors (warehouse builds, pharmaceutical facilities, data centres), the calculation is changing fast.
At Clearlift, we supply EP Equipment’s EFL series, a range of lithium-ion forklifts designed specifically to do what diesel does, without the diesel. They’re built on an IC truck chassis with large pneumatic tyres, a robust frame, and the power to handle the kind of loads you’ll encounter on a construction site. And they run clean.
Why Construction Sites Are Switching to Electric
The Irish construction sector is booming with housing delivery, pharmaceutical plant builds, logistics centres, and data centre infrastructure are all driving demand. Many of these sites share a common challenge: you need heavy lifting capability outdoors, but once you move materials inside a building, into a partially-built factory floor, a cold store shell, a production facility then diesel becomes a problem.
- Fumes in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces create health and safety risks and often block diesel equipment from operating indoors at all
- Running costs: diesel fuel and engine servicing on a construction forklift typically runs to €8,000–€15,000 per year. A lithium equivalent runs to €1,500–€3,000.
- Planning and environmental compliance: some industrial development sites now carry emissions conditions. Electric equipment avoids the issue entirely.
- Irish health and safety authority (HSA) enforcement on enclosed-space fume exposure is increasing. Electric eliminates the risk.
The EP EFL Series — Lithium-Ion Built Tough for Construction
The EP EFL series sits on the same chassis as a conventional IC forklift. This is important because it means it can handle rough terrain, ramps, and the kind of site surfaces you encounter on a construction or industrial site, which standard electric warehouse forklifts are not built for.
Key features:
- Robust IC truck chassis and large pneumatic tyres — handles uneven surfaces, ramps, and outdoor conditions
- 205Ah lithium-ion battery — rated for 8+ hours of operation with opportunity charging during breaks
- Zero emissions — can work indoors and outdoors on the same site without restrictions
- Opportunity charging — plug in during breaks and top up in 30–60 minutes. No dedicated charging room, no battery swap.
- Low servicing requirements — no engine oil, no diesel filters, no exhaust maintenance
See the EFL series: Lithium Yard Trucks
Suitable for the Toughest Construction Applications
The EFL series handles the typical lifting requirements on Irish construction and industrial sites:
- Building materials — blocks, timber, structural steel in packs
- Moving materials from delivery point to working floors
- Outdoor yard management combined with indoor placement
- Mixed-use operations where the same forklift needs to work inside and out
The EFL302 handles loads up to 3 tonnes and the EFL303 up to 3 tonnes in a heavier configuration, suitable for the majority of site lifting applications you’ll encounter.
The Running Cost Case for Irish Construction Companies
Based on typical construction site forklift usage in Ireland:
- Diesel forklift annual fuel and service cost: €10,000–€15,000
- EP EFL series annual energy and service cost: €1,500–€3,000
- Average annual saving: €7,500–€12,000 per machine
- Typical payback on the price premium over diesel: 2–3 years
Use our Lithium-Ion Savings Calculator to run the numbers for your own operation.
See It Working Live Before You Decide
Our Navan demo centre in Co. Meath is a working facility where you can put EP Equipment machines through their paces, including the EFL series before committing. We’ll show you how they perform on inclines, with heavy loads, and during opportunity charging cycles.
Book a free visit: Contact Us
Ireland: 01 5267 411 | Northern Ireland: 028 3833 7038
Clearlift Material Handling — Ireland’s only EP Equipment dealer. Depots in Navan, Co. Meath and Portadown, Northern Ireland.
