How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To be able to make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you should perform proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are costly, large and heavy. 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 replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Bear in mind that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending on various factors such as the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, charging nightly might be required. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Typically, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery will last around five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to completely charge the battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.