How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
To make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will last, you must perform proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are really heavy, expensive and large. The more efficient the battery, 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 can only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge varies depending upon various factors 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, charging every night might be required. Nevertheless, keep in mind that charging a battery very frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually built to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last roughly five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimate. The life span of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged fully. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the electrical parts and motor of the forklift can sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery can alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger can not completely charge the battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician may be required to return the battery charger to proper working order.