As cold fronts arrive and temperatures continue to drop, ensuring forklifts maintain stable performance and reliable runtime during winter requires tailored care for different battery types. Here’s a practical winter maintenance guide for reference.

Key Maintenance Points for Forklift Lithium Batteries

Winter cold temperatures affect lithium battery activity and charging efficiency, making it crucial to maintain appropriate charge levels and temperatures. When storing lithium batteries, keep the charge between 80% and 90%. Avoid prolonged storage at 0% charge to prevent battery damage. After use in cold conditions, charge the vehicle promptly in an environment above 0°C to utilize residual heat from discharge. In frigid regions, consider purchasing a battery heating system during procurement. Avoid prolonged low-charge storage during routine parking. If charging is blocked by low-temperature protection, allow the battery to warm up before charging. For extended holiday parking, fully charge and completely disconnect the battery beforehand. Inspect and recharge every 30 days.

Maintenance Essentials for Forklift Lead-Acid Batteries

Lead-acid batteries are equally susceptible to low-temperature effects. When forklifts are parked or batteries are unused, store them indoors above 0°C. Clean the battery exterior beforehand, fully charge it, then disconnect the power source. During winter, when battery discharge reaches 50%, electrolyte freezing may occur. Since the specific gravity of the electrolyte changes with sulfuric acid content, the probability of freezing increases with lower temperatures and greater discharge levels. Therefore, maintaining an appropriate charge level is particularly important. Temperature also significantly affects battery capacity—for every 1°C decrease in ambient temperature (using 25°C as the baseline), capacity decreases by approximately 1% to 2%. Consequently, vehicles should be parked indoors whenever possible, or batteries should be stored separately in a warm environment. When adding distilled water in winter, perform the operation after the battery is fully charged to ensure thorough mixing with the electrolyte. This prevents freezing caused by unmixed water on the surface.

Whether lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries, proper maintenance effectively extends battery life, enhances overall vehicle performance, and reduces the risk of winter operation failures. As temperatures continue to drop, performing preventive maintenance, adhering to proper charging protocols, and ensuring proper storage will keep your forklift operating efficiently and reliably throughout the cold season. Should you encounter unusual operating conditions or have questions during actual use, feel free to consult professional technicians for precise and reliable guidance. Wishing you safe, worry-free, and efficient winter vehicle operation.