How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
To make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you must carry out proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really large, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on various things like the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being operated. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery very often would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged every day, the battery would last around five years. However, this is an average estimate. The life of the battery can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift must never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could sustain damage as well. This is because the battery that is damaged could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery could be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not fully charge the battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to good working condition.