How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you should carry out proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are very heavy, expensive and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon different things such as the number of hours the forklift is being operated, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery very frequently would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can also sustain damage. 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 also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to fully charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to proper working order.