How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will last, you must carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and big. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is truly a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on different things such as the number of hours the forklift is being operated, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging every night might be required. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Commonly, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The life span of the battery could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the forklift battery fully, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to proper working condition.