How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units which require proper care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are expensive, large and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on various things like how many hours the forklift is being operated, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging every night might be required. Nevertheless, remember that charging a battery too often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Usually, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last roughly five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could 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 properly communicate with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not charge the forklift battery fully, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the charger to good working order.