A hybrid forklift having a vehicle driving motor, a hydraulic pump, an engine, a pump actuating motor, and a battery is disclosed. The vehicle driving motor is the drive source for running the forklift. The engine and the pump actuating motor are the drive sources for the hydraulic pump. The battery is the power supply for the vehicle driving motor and the pump actuating motor. The battery is placed lateral to, beneath, or in front of the engine so as to be separated from the path for discharging the heat emitted from the engine.