How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Electric forklifts batteries are expensive units that require proper maintenance and care to be able to ensure a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very expensive, big and heavy. 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 just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery problems.
Charging Cycles
batteries of forklifts should be recharged just when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate differs depending upon various things like for example the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being utilized, and the average load weight. For busy operations, charging nightly may be required. Nonetheless, don't forget that charging a battery very often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Thus, if the battery is being charged every day, the battery will last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended significantly 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 be caused by what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not completely charge the battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the battery charger to good working order.