Maximising the battery on your forklift truck is essential to get the best out of your machine. If your battery isn’t performing as well as you’d like, it means your forklift truck isn’t performing as well as you’d like.

Luckily, you may not have to replace the battery – instead, you can follow these 4 tips to maximise your forklift battery life.

Charge your machine at the end of every day

It’s common knowledge that letting your battery deplete all the way down and then charging overnight to 100% is a great way to keep your battery healthy. After every working day is over, plug in your battery and let it fully recharge. If your battery is going down too rapidly throughout the day after it has been charged to 100% there could be an issue with the battery or machine itself.

Don’t be tempted into quick charges

Most battery powered forklifts require a minimum of 8 hours of charging to ensure it is fully charged. Some operators think they can charge their machine for a few minutes and get away with it. This is an incredibly inefficient way to charge your battery and means you won’t be working to your full potential.

Charge in a cool, dry place

One of the ways a battery can deteriorate is through oxidation and rust. A buildup of rust can be a serious threat to your battery and to your forklift truck as a whole. By charging your battery in a cool, dry place that has plenty of ventilation, you can minimise the risk of oxidation.

Properly maintain your battery

We cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring you get regular forklift servicing and maintenance. It is essential for the health of your forklift truck and your battery to carry out proper maintenance. By regularly checking the health of your battery you can keep an eye on things like leaks, erosion and rust.

Here at H&F Lift Trucks, we provide forklift servicing to ensure your forklift trucks, including the batteries, are properly maintained and cared for. In the event of a breakdown or malfunction, we can also carry out forklift repairs.