How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units which require proper care and maintenance to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are large, heavy and expensive. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is a top priority, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you could just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending upon different things like the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being used, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging might be needed. Nonetheless, remember that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Usually, a brand new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Thus, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last roughly five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The battery life span can 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 fully discharged. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can sustain damage also. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger will be unable to charge the battery fully, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to proper working condition.