How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are valuable units that need proper maintenance and care to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very big, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can 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 issues.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries must be recharged only when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on different factors such as how many hours the forklift is being used, the average weight of loads and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging nightly might be needed. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery too frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Commonly, a brand new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last around five years. However, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A forklift battery should never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger will be unable to charge the battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working condition.