A hydraulic elevator is a type of vertical lift that uses hydraulic fluids to move the elevator car up and down. In a hydraulic elevator, a pump forces oil into a cylinder, which pushes a piston up. The piston is connected to the elevator car, so when the piston moves up, the elevator car moves up, and when the pressure is released the elevator car lowers.

Hydraulic elevators are typically used in low-rise buildings, such as apartment buildings, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and office buildings. They are not typically used in high-rise buildings, as they are not as fast as traction elevators and are limited to around 60 feet of travel. However, hydraulic elevators are more energy-efficient than traction elevators, can handle a heavy weight capacity and cost less to install.

How Does a Hydraulic Elevator Work?
The pump forces oil into the cylinder, which pushes the piston up. The piston is connected to the elevator car, so when the piston moves up, the elevator car moves up as well. When the elevator car reaches its destination, the valve opens and the oil flows back into the oil reservoir, lowering the elevator car. The speed of a hydraulic elevator is determined by the size of the pump/motor and the size of the piston. The larger the pump and the cylinder, the faster the elevator will be. Typically, a Hydraulic elevator travels between 75-150 feet per minute.