How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you must perform proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really big, heavy and costly. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is really a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon various things such as the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, charging nightly might be required. Nonetheless, keep in mind that charging a battery too often will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last about five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A forklift battery should never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery can be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger can not charge the forklift battery fully, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the charger to proper working condition.