How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units that need proper maintenance and care to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very big, heavy and costly. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is really a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged just when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon various things like 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, remember that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last around five years. However, this is an average estimation. The life of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A forklift battery must never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could 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 properly communicate with the battery could be compromised as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the forklift battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working condition.