Genie® announced the new E-Drive system, an optimised AC electric drive system, available across its entire line of GS™ slab scissor lifts. Commercial and residential contractors, rental owners and retail users seeking to reduce total cost of ownership will find that the new E-Drive equipped GS scissor lifts deliver increased run time, reduced maintenance costs and industry leading performance. In addition, the quiet and emission-free AC electric E-Drive motors provide contractors with a green solution to meet the demands of customers and job site regulations.

With high-gauge steel guards and increased ground clearance, E-Drive equipped GS scissor lifts can outperform on the most demanding jobsites. The new E-Drive motors are brushless and fully sealed against moisture and water for maintenance-free longevity. Further reducing service downtime, the new GS E-Drive scissor lifts have 70 per cent fewer hydraulic hoses and fittings, drastically reducing the potential for hydraulic leaks.

“Owners also will find they spend less on batteries over the life of the scissor lift due to longer runtime per charge and fewer lifetime charge cycles,” said Michael Flanagan, Product Manager, Genie. Based on industry-standard HIRD cycle testing, E-Drive scissor lifts have shown a 30 per cent increase in runtime per charge, with up to a 20 per cent reduction in lifetime battery costs.

Genie E-Drive scissor lifts deliver the performance customers need most, with real-world 25 per cent gradeability. Combined with two times the tyre tread depth as previous designs, Genie E-Drive scissors also have the torque and traction for climbing dovetail ramps, even if one wheel slips.

“A 14° break-over angle enables these scissor lifts to crest the top of the ramp without bottoming out, eliminating the need to winch machines onto trailers or raise dovetails after partial loading,” said Flanagan. New side forklift pockets on Genie E-Drive scissors, in addition to the industry standard rear pockets, simplify logistics, allowing for either driving on and lifting off, or lifting on and driving off the transport vehicle.

Flanagan added, “Our largest GS models benefit significantly from the gradeability and runtime improvements that E-Drive offers. In addition, E-Drive enabled a reduction in machine width for one model in our lineup, the GS-4047. Launched in 2014, the GS-4047 was 1.19 m (47 in) wide to accommodate the hydraulic brakes. With the E-Drive redesign, this model is now a more compact 1.17 m (46 in) wide, consistent with the rest of our large slab scissor lift family.”

As a result of this change, the new nomenclature is GS-4046. The newly-named GS-4046 is compatible with E-drive scissor lift accessories.