How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you should carry out proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are heavy, expensive and big. If the battery is more efficient, 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 problems.
Charging Cycles
Keep in mind that you can just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different factors like how many hours the forklift is being operated, the average weight of loads and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging every night might be needed. However, bear in mind that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery will last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimation. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct 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 called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can also sustain damage. This is because the battery which 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 be compromised also. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not completely charge the forklift battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to good working order.