Skyjack Replaces Hydraulic Drive With AC Electric Drive Motors In New E-Drive DC Scissor Lifts

    Posted On: September 5, 2023

    This Skyjack E-Drive SJ3219E DC electric scissor lift with new AC brushless drive motors offers a 25-foot working height and a 500-pound lift capacity. (Photo courtesy of Skyjack.)

    Skyjack recently launched a new family of DC electric scissor lifts with AC brushless electric drive motors instead of hydraulic drives. The company says the new “E” or E-Drive slab scissor lifts, such as the SJ3219 E, can operate up to 20% longer on an electric charge.

    “A longer run time per charge and fewer lifetime charge cycles mean our customers will find they spend less on batteries over the life of the machine and that is just one of many benefits,” says Skyjack Senior Product Manager Corey Connolly.

    The new E-Drive DC electric scissor lifts will replace current hydraulic-drive models, according to the manufacturer. The plan is to make them available in all areas of the globe throughout 2024.

    Smooth Controllability

    The sealed, maintenance-free AC drive motors in the new scissor lifts supply greater efficiency, Skyjack says. This shortens recharging time and lowers power consumption, which reduces costs and battery refilling requirements. Each E-Drive model has a multi-voltage smart charger built into its base. Maintenance-free absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are available as an option.

    Fully proportional controls and the drive motors’ consistent torque make operation of the new E-Drive lifts smoother and more controllable in both front- and rear-wheel-drive models, according to Skyjack. The lifts have a gradeability rating of 25% or more.


    “A longer run time per charge and fewer lifetime charge cycles mean our customers will find they spend less on batteries over the life of the machine and that is just one of many benefits,” says Skyjack Senior Product Manager Corey Connolly. (Photo courtesy of Skyjack.)

    Besides the “E” at the end of their model numbers, the zero-emissions DC electric lifts will be marked with Skyjack’s ECO badge to announce their sustainability benefits. The quiet lifts include an optimized hydraulic lift-and-steer manifold which contributes to 70% fewer hydraulic connections overall. Options include biodegradable oil and an EcoTray oil leak containment system.

    “A Proven Winner”

    “Ever since we launched E-Drive on our Vertical Mast range we have been excited about this launch,” says Connolly. “Our new Vertical Masts were very well received and now, after more than two years in the market, we see E-Drive as a proven winner, and I am sure our customers will welcome this change on our core scissor range.”

    “This is an exciting time. Rolling out our new E-Drive across our eight-model DC scissor range takes time. I think it is worthy of note that we have been able to achieve that without real-term increase in cost,” says Skyjack President Ken McDougall. “By providing significant reductions in our customers’ cost of ownership we have a truly competitive offering that more than lives up to the Skyjack ‘simply reliable’ ethos. With our new E-Drive machines we will see our customers getting more done for less.”

    Source: Skyjack

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