How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To be able to make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you must carry out proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are really big, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators could be. Extending the battery life span is really a main concern, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on various factors like the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. However, keep in mind that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Usually, a brand new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery would last roughly five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. 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 battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is referred to as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can also sustain damage. This is because the battery which is damaged can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the forklift battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to proper working condition.