What is a 4 wheel electric forklift?
A 4 wheel electric forklift is a counterbalance truck with a wheel at each corner, powered by a battery rather than an engine. With two steering wheels at the back instead of one, it sits on a wider, more stable base than a three-wheel truck. That steadiness counts when loads are heavier, floors are uneven or the truck spends time on ramps and dock plates.
The usual trade-off is turning circle. Most four-wheel trucks need noticeably more room to turn than a three-wheel machine of the same capacity, which is why three-wheelers tend to win in tight warehouses.
The FVL narrows that gap. Its dual drive system runs a separate 5 kW motor on each front wheel, and on a turn the controller drives them at different speeds to help the truck pivot. The result is a 4 wheel forklift with a 1,680 mm turning radius, tight enough for many racking layouts that would otherwise call for a three-wheel truck.
CPD18/20 FVL specifications
Both models share the same mast, motors, battery and charger. The CPD20 is 100 mm wider, with larger front tyres to carry the extra 200 kg.
|
CPD18 FVL |
CPD20 FVL |
| Rated capacity |
1,800 kg |
2,000 kg |
| Load centre |
500 mm |
500 mm |
| Standard lift height |
3,000 mm |
3,000 mm |
| Lowered mast height |
2,075 mm |
2,075 mm |
| Overhead guard height |
2,078 mm |
2,078 mm |
| Overall length |
3,020 mm |
3,070 mm |
| Overall width |
1,070 mm |
1,170 mm |
| Turning radius |
1,680 mm |
1,730 mm |
| Aisle width (1,000 × 1,200 mm pallet) |
3,422 mm |
3,472 mm |
| Travel speed (laden/unladen) |
13/14 km/h |
13/14 km/h |
| Lift speed (laden/unladen) |
0.33/0.45 m/s |
0.33/0.45 m/s |
| Gradeability (laden/unladen) |
10/15% |
10/15% |
| Drive motors |
2 × 5.0 kW |
2 × 5.0 kW |
| Lift motor |
11 kW |
11 kW |
| Battery |
80V/205Ah lithium-ion |
80V/205Ah lithium-ion |
| Charger |
Integrated 80V/35A, single-phase |
Integrated 80V/35A, single-phase |
| Service weight |
3,160 kg |
3,270 kg |
Figures are from EP’s published CPD18/20 FVL brochure for the standard 3 m mast. Other mast options are available and capacity reduces at height, so we will confirm what the truck can lift at your racking height before quoting.
4 wheel or 3 wheel?
The FVL shares its motors, battery and mast with EP’s three-wheel CPD 15/18/20 TVL, so the choice between them comes down to the chassis.
Choose the 3 wheel TVL if your work is mostly indoors on smooth floors and aisle width is the main constraint. It turns tighter, from 1,450 mm.
Choose the 4 wheel FVL if the truck regularly works on loading bays, ramps or older, uneven floors, or if operators will often be handling loads close to the 2 tonne mark. The extra stability is worth the slightly larger turning circle.
If you need more capacity or plan to work outside for long periods, the CPD15/20/30/35L1(S) goes up to 3.5 tonnes, and the EFL181/201 is built for yard and rural use with tyres suited to rougher surfaces.
Lithium-ion battery and charging
The 80V/205Ah lithium-ion battery is maintenance-free and supports opportunity charging, so the truck can be topped up during breaks and between jobs instead of waiting for a full charge. The 80V/35A charger is built in and runs on single-phase power, so there is no separate charging unit to install.
With no watering, no acid and no need for a ventilated charging area, the FVL is easy to run on smaller sites and in areas where people and stock are close by. It is also quiet and emission-free, which makes it comfortable to use indoors.
Buy, hire or lease the CPD18/20 FVL
The FVL is available to buy outright, on contract hire or lease, or on short-term hire. Hiring first is a good way to compare it against a three-wheel truck on your own floors and in your own aisles. See our hire and leasing options.
Our engineers cover planned maintenance, breakdowns and LOLER thorough examinations; see servicing and repairs. On multi-truck sites, forklift telematics shows how each truck is being used. You can browse the full range on our electric forklift trucks page.
