How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
To be able to make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will last, you should perform correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are costly, big and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is truly a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on different things such as 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 required. However, bear in mind that charging a battery too often would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. 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 can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift should never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger could not charge the battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the battery charger to good working condition.