How Long Does a Forklift Battery Last?
To make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would have long life, you should perform proper maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are expensive, large and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your machine operators could be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time connected with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you could only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate differs depending upon different factors such as the number of shifts being worked, the number of hours the forklift is being operated, and the average load weight. For busy operations, nightly charging may be needed. However, keep in mind that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Thus, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last around five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The life of the battery can be extended significantly 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 could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor could sustain damage also. This is because the battery which is damaged could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to communicate properly with the battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised charger could not charge the battery completely, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working condition.