How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you should carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, costly and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the battery life span is really a main concern, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different factors such as the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, charging every night may be needed. However, keep in mind that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimation. 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 completely discharged. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is referred to as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.