How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units which require correct care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and big. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span 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
Keep in mind that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on different factors like the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. Nevertheless, remember that charging a battery too often will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Commonly, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last roughly five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is referred to as a "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift can sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger could not charge the battery fully, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to good working condition.