How do you calculate hoist motor energy use?

Multiply the connected load in kW by the runtime in hours. At 12 kW for 8 hours you get 96 kWh, then multiply by your rate ($0.12/kWh) for $11.52 total.

What is the energy cost per lift for a hoist?

Divide total energy cost by units handled. With $11.52 of energy over 1,000 lifts, that is roughly $0.0115 per lift, a useful line item for per-container cost.

Why is hoisting the biggest energy draw on a crane?

Lifting mass against gravity requires sustained torque and power, while trolley and gantry travel are shorter and lower-load. On most STS and RTG cranes the hoist accounts for the majority of drive kWh.

Does regenerative braking change this number?

Yes. Modern electric hoists recover energy when lowering, which can cut net kWh 20-40 percent below the connected-load estimate this calculator produces, so treat the result as a gross figure.

How do I lower hoist energy cost per container?

Reduce empty-spreader hoisting, tune VFD acceleration ramps, enable regen, and lift more boxes per powered hour so the fixed drive energy spreads over more units.

What is a good hoist energy rate to assume?

Use your blended delivered rate including demand charges. Terminal rates commonly run $0.08-$0.18/kWh; the default here uses $0.12/kWh as a mid-point.

Port, Crane & Terminal Equipment calculator

Hoist Motor Load Calculator

Hoist Motor Load estimates the electrical energy a crane or hoist drive consumes over a run window and converts it into a cost per container or lift. Terminal electrical engineers and equipment maintenance managers use it to benchmark drive energy against throughput, especially as electrified RTGs, STS cranes and ship-to-shore hoists replace diesel. Because hoisting is the single largest power draw on most container handling equipment, tracking energy per lift is the fastest way to spot a failing brake, a mis-tuned VFD, or an operator hoisting empty spreaders unnecessarily. It also feeds shore-power and demand-charge negotiations with the utility.

What this calculator does

Estimate hoist motor load for port, crane and terminal equipment using production-ready inputs so teams can budget energy cost, compare equipment settings, or include electricity in the quote.
Use it when hoist motor load in port, crane and terminal equipment is up for an upgrade and you want a defensible savings story.
It multiplies hoist connected load by runtime to get kWh, applies the electricity rate for total cost, then divides by units handled for cost per lift.

Formula used

Total hoist motor load energy cost = hoist motor load connected load × hoist motor load runtime × blended electricity rate
Energy cost per kWh = total energy cost ÷ units processed during runtime

Inputs explained

Hoist motor connected load:
Hoist duty runtime per shift:
Blended electricity rate:
Containers or lifts handled during runtime:

How to use the result

Use it when auditing crane drive energy, comparing electric vs diesel handling, or building a per-container energy cost line for terminal cost models.
It uses connected load as a flat draw and ignores regenerative braking, hoisting-vs-lowering asymmetry, and duty-cycle peaks, so real metered kWh on a variable hoisting profile will differ.

Current U.S. benchmarks

As of Apr 2026, industrial electricity averages 8.7 cents per kWh across the U.S. (EIA), up 5.5% from a year earlier. State averages range widely, so plants should confirm against their own tariff.
U.S. housing starts run at 1,177k per year (Census, May 2026), down 8.7% from a year earlier, the demand driver for building products.
Steel mill PPI stands at 348.53 (BLS, May 2026), up 6.7% from a year earlier. New factory orders are up 2.3% year over year (Census).

Common questions

How do you calculate hoist motor energy use? Multiply the connected load in kW by the runtime in hours. At 12 kW for 8 hours you get 96 kWh, then multiply by your rate ($0.12/kWh) for $11.52 total.
What is the energy cost per lift for a hoist? Divide total energy cost by units handled. With $11.52 of energy over 1,000 lifts, that is roughly $0.0115 per lift, a useful line item for per-container cost.
Why is hoisting the biggest energy draw on a crane? Lifting mass against gravity requires sustained torque and power, while trolley and gantry travel are shorter and lower-load. On most STS and RTG cranes the hoist accounts for the majority of drive kWh.
Does regenerative braking change this number? Yes. Modern electric hoists recover energy when lowering, which can cut net kWh 20-40 percent below the connected-load estimate this calculator produces, so treat the result as a gross figure.
How do I lower hoist energy cost per container? Reduce empty-spreader hoisting, tune VFD acceleration ramps, enable regen, and lift more boxes per powered hour so the fixed drive energy spreads over more units.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.