Electric vs Hydraulic Drive Systems

Disabled Access

For disabled access, winding drum and screw drive are often chosen because these lifts are a must have compliance satisfying legal requirement for two floors.  Price is the decider.

Home Lifts

Electric traction and hydraulic are usually chosen as they are simply much better.  For your own house, you get what adds value rather than is functional.  (what do you drive personally? Or wear?)

Electric Evolution

1857

Electric Traction were the first drives in lifts.  They were expensive and required machine space overhead.

1977

Other technologies that did not require overhead machinery space and were lower cost, like hydraulics became common.

2000

MRL electric drives which were Machine Room Less were developed.  They were still expensive.

2017

MRL electric drives cost drop to the level that they are now a good option for home lifts and for lower numbers of floors.