How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
To make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will last, you should perform proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are very big, heavy and expensive. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your equipment operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on various factors like for instance the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, charging nightly might be needed. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The life of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged fully. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can sustain damage as well. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not fully charge the forklift battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the charger to good working order.