How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units that need proper maintenance and care to be able to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very large, heavy and costly. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is really a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged just when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon different things like the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery too often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery would last around five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could sustain damage as well. This is because the battery which is damaged can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can be compromised as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger will be unable to completely charge the forklift battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to good working order.