How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are valuable units that require correct maintenance and care to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very large, heavy and expensive. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your equipment operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
Forklift batteries should be recharged only when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon different factors like the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being utilized. For busy operations, charging every night might be required. Nevertheless, keep in mind that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last around 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 proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A forklift battery must never be allowed to become fully discharged. Not only can damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift can also sustain damage. This is because the battery that is damaged could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to communicate properly with the battery can be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger would be unable to fully charge the forklift battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to proper working condition.