How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you should perform proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and big. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not just because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you could just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending on different things like the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being utilized, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, nightly charging might be required. However, don't forget that charging a battery too often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last approximately five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The life of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the battery of the forklift is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery can be compromised as well. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not completely charge the forklift battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be needed to return the battery charger to good working order.