How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units which require correct care and maintenance to be able to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very heavy, costly and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you can only recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon different factors like for instance the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being operated, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, charging every night might be required. Nonetheless, keep in mind that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Commonly, a new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery would last roughly five years. However, 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 should never be allowed to become totally discharged. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can sustain damage as well. This is because the damaged battery can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the charger to good working order.