How Long Does a Forklift Battery Truly Last?
To be able to make sure that valuable units of electric forklift batteries will have long life, you should carry out correct care and maintenance. These industrial grade batteries are costly, big and heavy. The more efficient the battery, the more effective your equipment operators could be. Extending the battery life span is a main concern, not just because of the replacement cost, but also because of the expense of down time associated with battery issues.
Charging Cycles
Remember that you could just recharge batteries of forklifts when they are at least 80 percent discharged. The rate of discharge differs depending upon different factors like for example the number of hours the forklift is being utilized, the average load weight and the number of shifts being worked. For busy operations, charging every night might be required. Nevertheless, don't forget that charging a battery too frequently would wear the battery a lot faster.
Life Span
Brand new forklift batteries are usually made to last 1,500 charge cycles at minimum. Hence, if the forklift battery is being charged every day, the battery would last around five years. Nonetheless, this is an average estimation. The life of the battery could be extended significantly beyond the average 1,500 charge cycles with proper maintenance.
Deep Discharge
Make certain that the battery of the forklift is never discharged completely. Not only can damage to the battery result from what is called "deep discharge", the forklift's electrical components and motor can also sustain damage. This is because the damaged battery can 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 will be unable to fully charge the battery, causing a destructive cycle of incomplete charges. A service technician might be required to return the charger to good working order.