How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
Batteries of electric forklifts are expensive units that require proper care and maintenance to be able to guarantee a long life. These industrial grade batteries are very large, heavy and costly. The more efficient the battery, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the battery life span is truly a top priority, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you could only recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80% discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending on various factors like for instance the average weight of loads, the number of shifts being worked and how many hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, charging every night may be required. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery very frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Typically, a brand new forklift battery would last at least 1,500 charge cycles. Hence, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery would last roughly five years. However, this is an average estimate. The battery life span could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make sure that the forklift battery is never discharged completely. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical parts and motor can also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery could alter the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the battery charger to properly communicate with the forklift battery can also be compromised. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger could not fully charge the battery, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working condition.