How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you must perform proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are big, heavy and expensive. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your equipment operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on various factors like for instance the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. Nevertheless, bear in mind that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Commonly, a brand new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last roughly five years. However, 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
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged fully. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor can also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger could not completely charge the battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the charger to good working order.