Electric vs Non-Electric Articulating Boom Lift: Which One Is Right for Your Project?

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When working at heights in construction there are often a few aerial lifts that you can choose from. These include articulating boom lifts, straight boom lifts, and scissor lifts. Each has its own purpose and use, and each has electric and non-electric models to choose from.

We've already covered electric and diesel-powered scissor lifts and will cover the differences and uses between electric and non-electric articulating boom lifts. Knowing when to pick between the engine types is important as it could affect your bottom line.

Understanding Articulating Boom Lifts

Articulating boom lifts are a type of construction lift, also called man lift or aerial lift, that can lift both horizontally and vertically. Their ability to reach up and over obstacles makes them different from telescopic booms, also known as straight booms. Articulating boom lifts are available with three types of engine options: diesel, electric, and hybrid.

Articulating lifts are able to maneuver around obstacles because of the joints or "knuckles" in the boom arm. These knuckles are essentially pivot points, allowing the boom arm to adapt and adjust to the area it is operating in.

For this reason, articulating boom lifts are often used in situations where obstacles are the norm. These uses include painting, hanging up signs or lights, cleaning gutters and eavestroughs, tree cutting, and lighting or electrical work.

Typical uses for articulating boom lifts

Distinguishing Features of Electric Articulating Boom Lifts

Electric articulating boom lifts are great machines that are preferred for many jobs, for which there are a few reasons. The first is that electric motors are great for indoor jobs. This can include lighting and electrical work and setting up events in expo centers and stadiums.

Electric models also produce less noise and create no emissions, making them great for confined spaces. And with their smaller range, typically ranging from 30' to just over 60' in reach, they have smaller dimensions allowing them to fit in smaller work areas.

Articulating boom lift max specs for different engine types

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While electric articulating boom lifts can also be used outside, they have limited reach and you want to protect the components from poor weather. This limits the number of projects they are used on. However, these man lifts typically don't lose a significant amount of the lifting power that diesel engines have. They typically have non-marking tires, making them great for use on concrete and finished floors.

Distinguishing Features of Non-Electric Articulating Boom Lifts

The primary upside of non-electric or diesel-powered articulating boom lifts is their ability to reach further both vertically and horizontally. Electric articulating boom lifts have a limited vertical reach of 60' and a horizontal reach of around 29', while diesel-engined models can reach up to 150' vertically and 50' horizontally.

Diesel-powered articulating boom lifts also have more power and platform capacity. This makes them better for outdoor uses with rough terrain or bigger grades as electric models would struggle to operate in those environments. The platform capacity of electric articulating lifts has a max of around 500 lbs while diesel models can lift up to 660 lbs.

The main drawback of gas-powered lifts is that they cannot be used indoors as they create emissions and are typically pretty loud.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Electric vs Non-Electric Articulating Boom Lift

Now that we've covered the basics of both diesel and electric machines, here is a boom lift comparison graphic to show the pros and cons of each.

Side-by-side comparison of articulating boom lift types

How to Choose Between an Electric and Non-Electric Articulating Boom Lift

Using the above information and graphics, it should be pretty easy to determine when to use an electric model vs a gas-powered boom lift. But to break it down again, electric models should be used indoors and can be used outdoors when working on finished or flat terrain. Diesel boom lifts, on the other hand, should only be used in outdoor environments and are the best option for projects that require more reach.

Another reason to choose between the two would be price. Typically, articulating boom lifts are easier to maintain because they have fewer components and don't require refueling.

Whether you're working indoors or outdoors, DOZR can help you rent the right boom lift for your job. Not only do we have listings for electric and diesel articulating boom lifts, but we can also help you find any aerial lift including telescopic, scissor, and towable booms for your next project. Rent an electric or gas-powered boom lift today.

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