How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units which need correct maintenance and care to be able to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very expensive, large and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending upon various factors like for instance the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Commonly, a new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery would last around five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended a lot 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 can damage to the battery result from what is referred to as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery 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 too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not fully charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to good working order.