Electric Jacks vs. Hydraulic Jacks: What’s Best for Heavy Loads?

Jacks are load lifting solutions, in their simplest definition. While Vehicle jacks are created to lift trucks, cars and other fleet vehicles off the ground, handle any repairs tasks like tyre changes or underbody repairs much easier and safer. They can be of many types such as mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc. Although this method of operation barely has any bearing on their physical or visual exterior, it can significantly impact their level of output or performance. 

For instance, the benefits of hydraulic jacks include a load bearing capacity that far exceeds that of pneumatically operated systems. Despite this, one of its major cons is the size and portability of the jack type itself. This is where not only pneumatically operated systems shine, but also electric jacks, and many other models. 

You must make a choice of jack based on your needs and expectations. That is why we have prepared this heavy-duty jack buying blog for you, replete with all the information you need to make a comparative study on electric jacks vs hydraulic jacks. 

Electric Jacks: How They Work

Electric jacks operate using power from your vehicle’s battery or an external source. They typically come with a remote or built-in switch, allowing you to lift heavy loads with minimal physical effort. Inside, an electric motor does the lifting, so there’s no need to manually pump.

One drawback is their reliance on power. For example, if your car has broken down because of a flat tire without a backup source, the electric jack won’t function. Here, you cannot use an electric jack for a simple tire change. This can be a limitation in emergency roadside situations, where manual options might be more reliable.

An electric motor fitted inside the jack system works as the central operating mechanism of the jack, making it lift weights. Goes without saying, it is charged to move with the help of power. Electric jacks were a response to the exhausting manual energy wasted on lifting heavy loads using non-electrical, mostly mechanical jacks. 

Even the earlier variants of hydraulic jacks, that are fluid powered, were considerably manual labour inducing. The mechanical advantage that helped human power lift heavy loads was later coupled to electric DC motors to eliminate the wastage of human power. 

Hydraulic Jacks: How They Work

Hydraulic jacks are designed to lift serious weight by applying force to a cylinder with minimal effort, while requiring both strength and steady control. The system operates through liquid pressure which enables the jack to perform lifting and holding operations on heavy objects such as commercial truck or military truck with reduced labour effort.

Broadly, hydraulic jacks contain some of the main components which include a fluid storage tank, a pump, check valves and the main cylinder that performs the lifting operation. Operating the pump causes fluid to move into the chamber which then pushes the central rod into an upward direction. The upward motion of the load occurs through this process regardless of whether it is a vehicle or trailer or industrial machine.

The fluid serves as the main power source that enables all operations. The moving parts would remain inactive without this fluid. The system features sealed sections that prevent leaks while being designed to withstand multiple uses in harsh operating conditions. The reliability of hydraulic jacks makes them suitable for use in fleet maintenance and roadside service and garage-based heavy lifting operations across various industries such as automobile repairs.

Electric Jacks Vs. Hydraulic Jacks: Heavy-duty Jack

Now that we have discussed the anatomies of electric jacks vs. hydraulic jacks, let us go through their features, pros and cons to see which one has an edge over the other.

1. Size and Portability– Electric jacks, as we have already noted, are easy to carry around because of their portable size. Whereas hydraulic jacks weigh heavier on the scale, electric jacks deliver optimal performance easily. However, the performance of the electric jack may be sub-optimal in cases of emergencies, discussed below in the next point. 
2. Load Capacity– Hydraulic jacks reportedly have a higher load capacity than electric jacks owing to their different power generation capacities- hydraulic fluid vs. electric power. For example, hydraulic jacks by Stan Design Inc., like Scorpion floor and pit jacks or StanJack bridge jacks, are designed and manufactured to lift up to 50,000 lbs. 
3. Range of Tasks– Owing to the varying load and lifting capacity of the electric and hydraulic jacks, the range of tasks that they can perform also varies. If you want to use your jack more frequently and for menial load lifting tasks, then choose an electric jack. On the contrary, if you want to employ your jack to lift heavy loads and need it to function independently of your car engine, then go for heavy-duty hydraulic jacks. 
4. Precision and Accuracy– Both electric jacks vs. hydraulic jacks are designed for precision and accuracy so there cannot be any solid case here. However, owing to the nature of the task that you employ them for, the level of performance they deliver can vary significantly. For example, in hydraulic four-post car lifts, you also need to invest in a rolling bridge jack to lift the cars off the runway. 
5. Heat Dissipation– Electric jacks get overheated quickly as they are charged by car batteries, leading to fire accidents. Since they can quickly reach such hazardous high temperatures, they can significantly damage the jack systems or the car if left unchecked for more than a few minutes during the lifting process. That is why fluid-powered hydraulic jacks are preferred as they can be used for prolonged periods of lifting without the fear of overheating. 
6. Manual Exhaustion– Electric jacks, because they are powered by electricity, requiring no human power intervention in the lifting process, eliminates manual exhaustion completely. On the other hand, though, modern hydraulic jack designers and manufacturers are catching on to deliver smooth and efficient lifting power without manual exhaustion that is typically associated with these jacks. Stan Design Inc. has one-push button heavy load lifting solutions. 
7. Cost Effectiveness– Electric jacks are known to be cheaper than hydraulic jacks, but this is a blanket statement. They might have lower entry prices but the features or performance they deliver at those price points are in no way near comparable with those of their hydraulic counterparts. For example, the Stan Design Inc. hydraulic jacks start from as low as USD 4000 and come with a range of features from a detachable remote-control pendant to zinc-plated components. 
8. Wear and Tear– Last but not least, maintaining electric jacks is easier than hydraulic jacks as they are naturally less prone to manual wear and tear. Unlike that, traditional hydraulic jacks have typically been predisposed to the perils of oxidation, hydraulic fluid leakage, etc. However, with modern manufacturing experts in the market like Stan Design Inc., these problems have long been dealt successfully with, with innovations like high gloss powder coat paint and fine-grade steel jack designs.