How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units that require correct care and maintenance to be able to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are expensive, big and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is really a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon various factors like for instance the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally 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 about 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
A forklift battery must never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to proper working order.