How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you must carry out proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are very heavy, expensive and big. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is truly a main concern, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on different factors such as the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery very often would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery would last around five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. 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 totally discharged. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could sustain damage as well. This is because the damaged battery can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the charger to proper working order.