The invention relates to an energy-saving hydraulic system of an electric forklift. The system comprises a one-way valve, a motor, a multi-way valve and the like, wherein the multi-way valve is a plate valve and comprises an oil inlet/return valve sheet, a lifting reversing valve sheet, a middle connection valve sheet, an oblique reversing valve sheet and an oil inlet valve sheet; the one-way valve and a main safety valve are arranged in the oil inlet/return valve sheet which is externally connected with an oil port P1 and an oil return port T1; the lifting reversing valve sheet is a three-position six-way reversing valve sheet, a middle-position channel, a right-position oil channel and a left-position oil channel are arranged in the lifting reversing valve sheet, and the lifting reversing valve sheet is externally connected with oil ports A1, Pt and T2; the middle connection valve sheet is a transitional connection valve sheet, and a three-way pipe is arranged in the middle connection valve sheet; the oblique reversing valve sheet is a three-position six-way reversing valve sheet, a middle-position oil channel is arranged in the oblique reversing valve sheet, and the oblique reversing valve sheet is externally connected with oil ports A2 and B2; and an oblique overflow valve, a reversing overflow valve and a priority valve are arranged in the oil inlet valve sheet, and the oil inlet valve sheet is externally connected with oil ports P2, CF and Ls. Through the invention, after the electric forklift is charged once, the recovery efficiency of potential energy can reach 59.7%, the total recovery efficiency of the system can reach 31.3%, and the working time of the electric forklift can be prolonged by 1/5.