How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units that need correct care and maintenance to be able to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very costly, big and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon various things like for instance the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. However, remember that charging a battery very often will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Typically, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery would last approximately five years. However, 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
Make certain 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 components and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger would be unable to charge the battery completely, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to proper working condition.