HD Hyundai Site Solution launches 10-18t electric forklift lineup
In short
HD Hyundai Site Solution said on Oct 5 that it held a test-drive event at its Eumseong plant and unveiled a 10- to 18-tonne electric forklift lineup, following last year's mid-size model; the company says it is the only domestic maker of electric forklifts of 10 tonnes or more. The largest 18-tonne model runs up to nine hours per charge and reaches 80% charge in 1.5 hours with a 120 kW fast charger, and the company says the higher purchase price versus diesel is offset in about two to three years. The models carry UL 2580 battery safety certification and IP67 or higher water and dust resistance, the company said.
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HD Hyundai Site Solution said on Oct 5 that it recently held a test-drive event for its next-generation electric forklifts at its plant in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, and unveiled large models that have entered mass production. The lineup spans 10- to 18-tonne forklifts, following the mid-size model the company launched last year. The company says it is the only domestic brand manufacturing electric forklifts of 10 tonnes or more. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Diesel forklifts have been the norm at heavy-load sites such as shipyards, ports and steelworks because they offer high output and long operating hours, the reports said. With environmental rules tightening, the outlets said, the task for the industry has become keeping productivity at internal-combustion levels while cutting exhaust emissions. [ 1 , 3 , 7 ]
The company applied a high-voltage battery system and fast-charging technology, saying the models match diesel forklifts in work speed, climbing performance and output. The largest 18-tonne model can work up to nine hours on one charge, and an optional 120 kW fast charger brings the battery to 80% in 1.5 hours. The 4.5-tonne model can run up to 14 hours per charge, according to the company. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
The company also said the models obtained certification under UL 2580, a US battery system safety standard, and carry IP67 or higher water and dust resistance, which the reports said suits outdoor sites exposed to sea wind and rain. Seoul Economic Daily noted that the IP rating follows the IEC 60529 standard. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
On cost, the company said an analysis of total cost of ownership for medium-intensity work shows the initial price gap with diesel products is offset in about two to three years, while Hankook Ilbo noted that electric forklifts cost more to buy than diesel models. “The large next-generation electric forklift responds to environmental regulations without a loss of productivity, based on performance comparable to internal combustion forklifts,” a company official said, adding that the company would “provide electrification solutions optimised for various work environments and further strengthen competitiveness in the global market.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Modor Intelligence forecasts the global electric forklift market will grow from $52.55 billion in 2026 to $67.44 billion in 2031, an average annual rate of 5.12%, with the 5- to 15-tonne mid-to-large segment growing 8.21% a year over the same period, according to the reports. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The launch extends electrification from cars into heavy equipment used at shipyards, ports and steelworks, where diesel forklifts have dominated, and the company presents it as a way to meet tightening emissions rules without losing productivity. It also tests whether a domestic maker can compete in a global electric forklift market that Modor Intelligence expects to reach $67.44 billion by 2031, with the mid-to-large segment forecast to grow faster than the market as a whole.
Key facts
- HD Hyundai Site Solution said on Oct 5 that it recently held a test-drive event for next-generation electric forklifts at its plant in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, and unveiled large models that have entered mass production. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The lineup covers 10- to 18-tonne models, following the mid-size model launched last year, and the company says it is the only domestic brand producing electric forklifts of 10 tonnes or more. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The 18-tonne model can work up to nine hours on one charge, and an optional 120 kW fast charger brings the battery to 80% in 1.5 hours; the 4.5-tonne model can run up to 14 hours per charge, the company said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The company said an analysis of total cost of ownership for medium-intensity work shows the initial price gap with diesel products is offset in about two to three years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The models obtained certification under the US battery system safety standard UL 2580 and carry IP67 or higher water and dust resistance, according to the company. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Modor Intelligence forecasts the global electric forklift market will grow from $52.55 billion in 2026 to $67.44 billion in 2031, an average of 5.12% a year, with the 5- to 15-tonne segment growing 8.21% a year. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- HD Hyundai Site Solution held a test-drive event for its next-generation electric forklifts at its Eumseong plant and announced the mass-production launch on Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The new lineup spans 10- to 18-tonne models and follows the mid-size model launched last year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The 18-tonne model can work up to nine hours per charge, and a 120 kW fast charger reaches 80% charge in 1.5 hours; the 4.5-tonne model runs up to 14 hours per charge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The company's total-cost-of-ownership analysis for medium-intensity work puts the payback period against diesel products at about two to three years. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- The company says the models secured UL 2580 certification and IP67 or higher water and dust resistance. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Modor Intelligence forecasts growth in the global electric forklift market and faster growth in the 5- to 15-tonne segment. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- What the new models cost and how large the price difference with diesel forklifts is. The documents give no price figures; the only cost statement is the company's total-cost-of-ownership analysis, which is a single-source claim.
- Whether HD Hyundai Site Solution is in fact the only domestic brand manufacturing electric forklifts of 10 tonnes or more. The claim appears in several outlets but is attributed to the company in each case and is not independently confirmed in the documents.
- What Newsis reported in detail about the launch. The article text carried under the Newsis headline concerns a separate incident at the DMZ, so only its headline addresses the forklift launch.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes the first report of the day, citing the nine-hour runtime, the 1.5-hour charge to 80% and a two- to three-year payback period. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy reports the launch, adding UL 2580 and IP67 certification details and the Modor Intelligence market forecast. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports the launch and explains the IP rating standard, which it says follows IEC 60529. [ 3 ]
- Newsis publishes a report headlined on the launch and on targeting shipyards and ports. [ 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo publishes the day's last report, noting that electric forklifts cost more up front than diesel products. [ 7 ]