How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units that require proper maintenance and care to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are really expensive, big and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is truly a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon various factors like the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. However, don't forget that charging a battery very often will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Typically, a brand new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The life span of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged fully. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the battery which is damaged can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger can not charge the battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to good working condition.