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 large, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you can only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on different factors 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, nightly charging may be required. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery too often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are normally built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last approximately five years. Nevertheless, 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 battery of the forklift should never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged could change 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 battery charger would be unable to completely charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working condition.