Two tonnes is the workhorse capacity of UK materials handling. It covers a loaded standard pallet with room to spare, suits most racking, and is the size most sites reach for when replacing an ageing diesel or gas truck. If you are shopping for a 2 tonne electric forklift, the real decision is rarely capacity. It is which chassis fits your site.
iLift supplies two lithium-ion EP models at this capacity that solve different problems: the 4-wheel EFL201 and the 3-wheel TDL201. Here is how they compare and how to choose between them.
What 2 Tonnes Means on the Data Plate
Capacity is rated at a 500 mm load centre, roughly the middle of a 1,000 mm deep pallet. Lift higher, fit an attachment, or carry a long or offset load and the safe capacity drops. A 2 tonne truck on a triplex mast at full height will have a lower residual capacity than its headline figure, so check the capacity plate for your exact mast and attachment combination.
If your heaviest regular loads sit between 1.5 and 1.8 tonnes, a 2 tonne truck gives you sensible headroom. If your loads are lighter, our guide to 1.5 tonne electric forklifts may suit you better.
Why Lithium-Ion at 2 Tonnes
Both trucks run on EP's in-house lithium-ion batteries, which are sealed and maintenance free. There is no watering, no battery room and no mid-shift battery swap. Lithium-ion can be opportunity charged during breaks without harming battery life, so one battery covers a longer working day.
Zero exhaust emissions mean the same truck can work inside a food store or closed warehouse, then head out to the yard. Every truck iLift sells includes the battery, backed by a 5-year battery warranty from the battery's manufacture date.
EP EFL201: The 4-Wheel All-Rounder
The EP EFL201 is EP's entry-level lithium-ion counterbalance truck, built on a chassis designed around the diesel trucks it replaces. Big solid tyres, 120 mm ground clearance and a water-resistant design make it at home on yards, ramps and rougher surfaces as well as indoors.
Key specifications:
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Capacity: 2,000 kg at 500 mm load centre
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Battery: 80V / 150Ah lithium-ion
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Charger: 80V / 35A integrated, runs from a standard power outlet
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Travel speed: 11 / 14 km/h (laden / unladen)
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Gradeability: 12 / 15%
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Turning radius: 2,100 mm
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Overall width: 1,080 mm
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Masts: 3.3 m duplex, or a 4.8 m triplex version for higher racking
The integrated charger is the EFL201's practical advantage. There is no charging station to install, which makes it a strong fit for builders' merchants, construction sites, rental fleets and any business that needs a dependable forklift without changing its infrastructure.
EP TDL201: The 3-Wheel Option for Tighter Sites
The EP TDL201 comes from EP's premium TDL range and is built for manoeuvrability. A single rear steer wheel and two front drive motors let it turn in far less space than a 4-wheel truck.
Key specifications:
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Capacity: 2,000 kg at 500 mm load centre
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Battery: 48V lithium-ion
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Drive: dual 5.4 kW AC motors
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Charger: 48V / 50A integrated, with optional 150A or 200A external chargers for faster turnaround
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Travel speed: 15 / 16 km/h (laden / unladen)
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Lift speed: 0.35 / 0.43 m/s
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Turning radius: 1,605 mm
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Masts: 3.3 m duplex, 4.8 m triplex or 6 m triplex
Hydraulic steering, a roomy operator compartment and an LED display showing battery status and working hours make it a comfortable truck across long shifts. It suits warehouses, docks, side loading of lorries and logistics centres.
EFL201 vs TDL201: The Key Differences
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Turning circle: the TDL201 turns in roughly 500 mm less (1,605 mm vs 2,100 mm). In narrow aisles and busy loading bays, this matters most.
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Length: the TDL201 is around 260 mm shorter to the fork face (2,013 mm vs 2,272 mm).
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Ground clearance: the EFL201's 120 mm, against 86 mm under the TDL201's mast, makes it the better yard truck.
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Performance: the TDL201 travels and lifts faster, which adds up on high-throughput sites.
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Lift height: the TDL201 is available to 6 m. The EFL201 is listed to 4.8 m.
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Cost: the EFL201 is the lower-cost route into 2 tonne lithium-ion.
How to Choose
Work through these questions before you commit:
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Where does the truck spend most of its time? Mostly outdoors or on mixed surfaces points to the EFL201. Mostly on smooth warehouse floors points to the TDL201.
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How wide are your aisles? Measure your narrowest working aisle and compare it with the truck's stated aisle width for your pallet size. The TDL201 needs 3,348 mm for a 1,000 x 1,200 mm pallet carried crossways.
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How high do you stack? Above 4.8 m, the 6 m TDL201 is the option.
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How intensive is the work? General single-shift duties suit the EFL201. Faster cycles over longer shifts favour the TDL201, especially with an external charger.
Running a 2 Tonne Electric Forklift in the UK
Electric or not, a forklift is lifting equipment. Under LOLER, the HSE requires a forklift's lifting chains, forks, mast and cylinders and any fork attachments to be thoroughly examined every 12 months, or at the intervals set out in a written scheme of examination. Daily pre-use checks by operators still apply.
Every iLift lithium-ion truck receives a full pre-delivery inspection before it reaches you, and service contracts are available to keep it maintained and compliant.
Find Your 2 Tonne Electric Forklift
The EFL201 is the practical choice for mixed indoor and outdoor work, from £14,900 + VAT. The TDL201 earns its higher price, from £24,000 + VAT, where space is tight and throughput matters.
Browse the full electric forklift range, check our ex-demo stock, or explore electric forklift hire if you would rather trial a truck first. Not sure which mast or charger you need? Get in touch and our team will match the truck to your site.
