How Long Does a Forklift Battery Really Last?
To be able to make certain that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will last, you should carry out proper care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are big, heavy and costly. If the battery is more efficient, the more productive your machine operators can be. Extending the life span of the battery is a main concern, not only 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 batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80% discharged. The discharge rate varies depending on different factors such as the average load weight, the number of shifts being worked and the number of hours the forklift is being used. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. However, remember that charging a battery very often would wear the battery more quickly.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are normally made to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Thus, if the battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last approximately 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 proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A forklift battery must never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery be caused by what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor could also sustain damage. This is because the battery that 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 battery charger could not charge the battery completely, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the charger to good working order.