How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units which require correct maintenance and care to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are expensive, big and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you could only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon various factors like the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery too often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Typically, a new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last roughly five years. Nonetheless, 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
A forklift battery must never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by 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 communicate properly with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not completely charge the forklift battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to proper working order.