How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units which need proper maintenance and care to be able to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, expensive and big. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is truly a main concern, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon various factors like for instance how many hours the forklift is being used, the average weight of loads and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nevertheless, bear in mind that charging a battery too often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are typically made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last around five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A forklift battery should never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "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 battery charger could not charge the battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the charger to good working condition.