How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you should carry out correct maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and large. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you can only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on different factors like for instance the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. However, remember that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery will last around five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become fully discharged. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift could sustain damage as well. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger can not charge the forklift battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.