How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units which need correct care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, costly and big. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is really a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon different things such as the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Commonly, a brand new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery would last around five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The life span of the battery could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor can sustain damage as well. This is because the battery which is damaged could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery could be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to fully charge the forklift battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to proper working order.