How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will last, you must carry out correct maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive 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 only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Bear in mind that you could only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending on different factors like for example the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, charging nightly might be needed. Nevertheless, remember that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last around five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimate. 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 forklift battery is never discharged fully. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger would be unable to charge the battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.