How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are valuable units which need correct maintenance and care to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and large. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated 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 upon various things like the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, charging nightly may be required. Nevertheless, remember that charging a battery very frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Therefore, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last approximately five years. However, this is an average estimation. The life span of the battery can be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor can sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not completely charge the battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to proper working condition.