How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you should perform proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are very heavy, expensive and big. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Bear in mind that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending on different things like for example the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. Nevertheless, remember that charging a battery too often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Usually, a new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The life span of the battery could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the forklift battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to good working condition.