How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
To make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you should carry out proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are very expensive, big and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you could only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon various things like the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. However, keep in mind that charging a battery too often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Hence, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the battery of the forklift is never discharged completely. 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 also. 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 properly communicate with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not charge the forklift battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to proper working order.