How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units which need proper care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, costly and big. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment 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 cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon different factors like for example the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery too often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Therefore, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last approximately five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the battery of the forklift is never discharged fully. Not only can 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 change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to good working order.