Melbourne & Geelong · Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm Founding fleet offer: 2 months free on 36-month terms → 0492 902 286hire@ecoliftrentals.com.au

Melbourne & Geelong · Long-term lithium forklift hire

Five lithium forklifts.
One fixed weekly rate.

Stop buying the wrong forklift and stop paying LPG bills. We match one of five proven EP and BYD machines to your loads, racking and power supply — on a fully maintained 12–60 month term with dealer-backed service.

  • $175from /week ex GST
  • 12–60month fully maintained terms
  • 5EP & BYD lithium models
  • Same daywritten quote, Mon–Fri
  • From $175/week ex GST
  • 12–60 month fully maintained terms
  • Same-business-day written quote
  • Authorised EP & BYD dealer-backed service
  • Melbourne & Geelong delivery and service
  • Load charts, manuals & pre-start checklists supplied
  • Five lithium models · 1.8 to 3.5 t
  • No LPG bills · no battery rooms · no watering

The fleet

Pick your forklift in two minutes

Every model we run, side by side. Tell us three things about your site and we’ll highlight what fits — no 200-product catalogue to wade through.

Answer three questions about your site

Heaviest regular load
Site power supply
Containers / racking above 4.5 m?

Showing all five models. Pick your load, power and lift needs to see which machines fit.

Need a load-centre, height and aisle check? Open full FitCheck →
EP 1.8 t Single-phase charging
EP EFL181 1.8 tonne lithium forklift

EP EFL181

The no-three-phase entry point

The only forklift here that charges from a single-phase 15A outlet — built for small warehouses without three-phase power.

Lift
4.8 m triplex
Battery
48V / 150Ah · 7.2 kWh
Charger
50A built-in charger
Site power
15A single-phase

from $175/week ex GST

EP 2.5 t Most popular
EP EFX5-251 2.5 tonne lithium forklift

EP EFX5-251

The 2.5 t workhorse

The all-round 2.5 tonne that most Melbourne warehouses actually need, with a modular 80V pack and three-phase charging.

Lift
4.5 m triplex
Battery
80V / 280Ah · 22.4 kWh
Charger
60A charger
Site power
Three-phase

from $210/week ex GST

EP 3.5 t Heavy loads
EP EFX5-351 3.5 tonne lithium forklift

EP EFX5-351

Real 3.5 t capacity, small price step

Genuine 3.5 tonne muscle for steel, stone and heavy pallets — only $19 a week more than the 2.5 t.

Lift
4.5 m triplex
Battery
80V / 280Ah · 22.4 kWh
Charger
60A charger
Site power
Three-phase

from $229/week ex GST

BYD 2 t Full free lift Fast charge
BYD EL20-Pro 2 tonne lithium forklift

BYD EL20-Pro

High-rack & container specialist, 2 t

Full free lift and 100A fast charging for high-turnover 2 tonne work in racking and containers.

Lift
4.8 m triplex FFL
Battery
80V / 210Ah LFP · 16.8 kWh
Charger
100A fast charger
Site power
Three-phase

from $225/week ex GST

BYD 2.5 t Full free lift Fast charge
BYD EL25-Pro 2.5 tonne lithium forklift

BYD EL25-Pro

Premium 2.5 t: FFL + fast charge

The 2.5 tonne for high racking, containers and short charge windows — multi-shift on one battery.

Lift
4.8 m triplex FFL
Battery
80V / 270Ah LFP · 21.6 kWh
Charger
100A fast charger
Site power
Three-phase

from $235/week ex GST

Instant estimate

What would it cost per week?

Pick a machine and a term. You get our published from-rate, the monthly and annual equivalent, and the conditions that move a final quote — the same numbers that go into the written quote, not a bait price.

  • Published 36-month fully maintained from-rates, reviewed August 2026
  • Delivery is a one-off freight charge, itemised — never hidden in the weekly rate
  • Scheduled servicing, fair wear-and-tear repairs and breakdown response included
  • Written quote the same business day, no obligation
$210/week ex GST · EP EFX5-251
  • Monthly equivalent≈ $910 /month
  • Annual equivalent≈ $10,920 /year
  • Including GST$231 /week inc GST
  • Term36 months · published from-rate
  • Delivery & collection$150–$350 ex GST each way, one-off
  • Hours allowanceUp to 1,200 h/yr included

This is the published 36-month fully maintained from-rate for approved commercial credit. Your written quote confirms it against your site, hours and configuration.

How it works

From enquiry to forklift on your floor

  1. 01 · FIT

    Fit assessment

    Ten minutes on your loads, lift heights, aisles, doorways and power supply. We check the load charts so you never get a machine that can’t do the job at height.

  2. 02 · QUOTE

    Same-day written quote

    A weekly rate with everything itemised — term, servicing, delivery, hours allowance. No “from” price bait, no hidden conditions.

  3. 03 · DELIVERY

    Dealer delivery

    Your forklift arrives commissioned, safety-checked and documented, with operator handover. Freight is a one-off charge quoted by zone.

  4. 04 · SUPPORT

    Serviced & supported

    Scheduled servicing is included. Breakdowns get a rapid dealer response, and every inspection is logged — compliance records kept for you.

EP lithium forklifts being delivered by tilt-tray truck in Melbourne

EP lithium forklifts on tilt-tray delivery — machines are commissioned and safety-checked before handover.

Why lithium, why now

The running-cost case is not subtle

$3–5k

typical annual energy cost for an electric forklift on single-shift work — versus $18–22k in fuel for a comparable diesel. LPG sits in between and keeps rising.

0 min

battery watering, acid checks or battery-room ventilation. Lithium packs are sealed, maintenance-free and safe to opportunity-charge in normal work areas with a compliant setup.

30–45 min

of break-time charging on our 100A fast-charge BYD models puts a meaningful charge back in the pack — many sites run multi-shift on a single battery.

Energy figures are indicative market ranges for Melbourne (reviewed August 2026); your actual costs depend on tariffs, hours and duty cycle. We’ll model your site in the quote.

Before anything else

What power does your site have?

It’s the first question we ask, because it decides your options. Four of our five models need a three-phase outlet for their chargers. If your site only has standard power points, the EP EFL181 is built exactly for you — it charges from a normal 15A single-phase socket.

Read the charging guide

Straight answers

Frequently asked questions

What does long-term forklift hire include?

Our agreements run 12 to 60 months and include scheduled servicing and fair wear-and-tear maintenance, coordinated through the dealer network that supplies and supports the machines. You get one fixed weekly rate ex GST — no surprise service bills for normal use. Damage, misuse, tyres beyond fair wear and excess hours are quoted separately and spelled out in the agreement before you sign.

How much does long-term forklift hire cost in Melbourne?

Our five lithium models start from $175/week ex GST on a 36-month fully maintained term (reviewed August 2026). Melbourne market rates for comparable electric counterbalance forklifts generally run $150–$255/week depending on capacity, mast, term and what is included. See our pricing page for the full breakdown.

Do I need three-phase power for an electric forklift?

Four of our five models charge from an external three-phase charger. The EP EFL181 is the exception — it charges from a standard 15A single-phase outlet, which makes it the right choice for smaller sites without three-phase supply. It is the first question we ask in every quote.

Who delivers and services the forklift?

Machines are delivered, serviced and supported by the authorised EP and BYD dealer network in Melbourne, with parts warehouses and technicians in the south-east and west. We coordinate everything — you have one number to call.

What licence do my operators need?

In Victoria, operating a counterbalance forklift requires a High Risk Work Licence (LF class) issued under WorkSafe Victoria requirements. We provide the machine documentation, load charts and pre-start checklists; your operators must hold the licence.

Can I upgrade or swap models during the term?

Yes — if your loads or racking change, we re-run the fit assessment and can swap you to a different model in the fleet. Like-for-like replacement during major repairs is part of the service conversation we have with you up front.

Tell us your site. We’ll tell you the right forklift.

Ten minutes of fit questions, a same-day written quote, dealer delivery across Melbourne and Geelong.

0492 902 286 Get a quote