How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units which need proper care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are really expensive, big and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is really a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you could just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon various factors such as how many hours the forklift is being operated, the average weight of loads and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. However, bear in mind that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Typically, 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 approximately five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can 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 fully discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could sustain damage also. This is because the battery which is damaged could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not fully charge the battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to proper working condition.