How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are valuable units that require correct care and maintenance to be able to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, expensive and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is really a main concern, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you can just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on various things such as the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Thus, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last approximately five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift should 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 too. This is because the battery which is damaged could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger will be unable to fully charge the forklift battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.