How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units that require correct maintenance and care to be able to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are really expensive, large and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is truly a top priority, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged just when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon different factors like for instance how many hours the forklift is being used, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Usually, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last roughly five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged fully. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not completely charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.