How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units that need correct maintenance and care to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are big, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged just when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different factors like how many hours the forklift is being operated, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nevertheless, remember that charging a battery too often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last about five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The life of the battery could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the battery of the forklift is never discharged fully. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift 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 properly communicate with the battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the forklift battery completely, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the battery charger to proper working order.