How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make certain that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would last, you must carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are very expensive, big and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is really a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different factors like for instance the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. However, don't forget that charging a battery very often would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the battery is being charged daily, the battery would last around five years. Nonetheless, 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
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged totally. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery can be compromised as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger will be unable to charge the forklift battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to good working condition.