How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are valuable units that need proper maintenance and care to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, costly and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive 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 cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you can just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending on different factors like the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being used, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, charging nightly may be required. Nonetheless, bear in mind that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is referred to as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger would be unable to fully charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.