How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units which need proper care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very heavy, costly and big. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is truly a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts must be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending upon different factors such as how many hours the forklift is being operated, the average weight of loads and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging nightly might be required. However, bear in mind that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The life of the battery could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged fully. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery can be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to charge the forklift battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.