How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units that require correct care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are large, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you could only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon various things such as the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, charging nightly might be needed. However, bear in mind that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Commonly, a new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last about five years. Nonetheless, 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
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged completely. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can sustain damage also. This is because the battery that is damaged could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery can be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the battery fully, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.