How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would last, you should carry out correct maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, costly and big. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon different factors like the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Therefore, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery would last roughly five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged fully. Not only can 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 damaged battery 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 as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger will be unable to charge the forklift battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to proper working order.