How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units that require correct care and maintenance to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are costly, large and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you could just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different things such as the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last around five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift could sustain damage as well. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not charge the forklift battery fully, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working order.