How Long Does a Forklift Battery Actually Last?
To be able to make sure that expensive units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you must perform correct maintenance and care. These industrial grade batteries are costly, large and heavy. If the battery is more efficient, the more effective your equipment operators can be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not only because of the cost of replacement, but also because of the cost of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Don't forget that you could just recharge forklift batteries when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The discharge rate differs depending on different things such as the number of hours the forklift is being operated, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, nightly charging may be required. However, remember that charging a battery very often will wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
New forklift batteries are typically built to last 1,500 charge cycles at least. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged on a daily basis, the battery will last around five years. However, this is an average estimation. The life span of the battery could be extended a lot beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with correct maintenance.
Deep Discharge
A battery of the forklift should never be allowed to become completely discharged. Not only could damage to the battery result from what is known as a "deep discharge", the electrical components and motor of the forklift could sustain damage as well. This is because the battery which is damaged can change the amount of power being supplied to the forklift. The ability of the charger to properly communicate with the battery could be compromised too. In a worst-case scenario, the compromised battery charger would be unable to charge the forklift battery fully, resulting in a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be needed to return the battery charger to proper working condition.