How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units which need correct maintenance and care to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are big, heavy and costly. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is truly a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged just when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon various things such as 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 every night may be required. However, keep in mind that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Usually, a new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged every day, the battery will last about five years. However, this is an average estimate. The life span of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the battery of the forklift is never discharged totally. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift could sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery could be compromised as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger can not fully charge the forklift battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to proper working order.