How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units which need proper care and maintenance to be able to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very large, heavy and expensive. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different things like for example the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being utilized, and the average load weight. For busy operations, charging every night might be needed. Nevertheless, bear in mind that charging a battery very often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Typically, a brand new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery will last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimation. The life of the battery could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become fully discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor 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 properly communicate with the battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger could not completely charge the battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to proper working order.