How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
To be able to make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries would last, you must carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are very large, heavy and expensive. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is really a top priority, not only because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you can just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on various things such as the number of shifts being worked, how many hours the forklift is being operated, and the average weight of loads. For busy operations, charging every night may be required. However, remember that charging a battery very frequently will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Commonly, a brand new forklift battery will last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Therefore, if the forklift battery is being charged daily, the battery would last approximately five years. Nevertheless, this is an average estimation. The life span of the battery can be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift can sustain damage too. This is because the damaged battery could change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery could also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger would be unable to completely charge the battery, leading to a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the battery charger to good working condition.