How Long Will an Electric Forklift Run?

　　Typing “How long will an electric forklift run?” into Google usually means one thing: operators fear mid-shift downtime. Runtime depends on battery capacity, duty cycle, and charging strategy, but most electric forklifts deliver 6–8 hours of continuous operation on a single charge.

　　A standard 48-V, 850-Ah lead-acid battery stores roughly 40 kWh of usable energy. Under a typical VDI 2198 duty cycle—50 % lift, 30 % travel, 20 % idle—you can expect 6 hours of operation. High-lift or ramp work increases motor draw, cutting runtime to 4–5 hours, while light picking may stretch it to 10.

　　Lithium-ion batteries accept opportunity charges during breaks, adding 30 % capacity in 15 minutes. Fast chargers at 150 A can fully replenish a 460-Ah pack in under two hours, effectively enabling 24/7 operation with one battery. Lead-acid cannot tolerate fast charging without heat damage, so dual-battery swapping remains common.

　　Aggressive lifting, high travel speeds, and cold storage environments drain batteries faster. Telematics systems now track kWh per lift and issue alerts when drivers exceed efficiency thresholds. Training operators to coast and lift at optimal speeds can extend runtime by 12–15 % without hardware changes.

　　In summary, an electric forklift will run 6–8 hours per charge under normal conditions. By choosing lithium-ion, leveraging opportunity charging, and coaching drivers, you can push that figure to cover even the longest shifts.