--- title: Should You Buy a New or Reconditioned Electric Forklift Battery? description: Industrial machinery can be pricy, but besides cost, what's the difference between a new and reconditioned electric forklift battery? image: https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/2017-crown-battery-should-you-buy-a-new-or-reconditioned-electric-forklift-battery-1.jpg --- [![logo-2](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/2020%20IMAGES/LP%20Images/IMG/homepage-template/logo-2.png)logo-2 ](https://www.crownbattery.com) Menu - [Motive Power](https://www.crownbattery.com/ind-motive-power) - [Electric Forklifts & Pallet Jacks](https://www.crownbattery.com/electric-forklifts-pallet-trucks) - [Industrial Charging Systems](https://www.crownbattery.com/industrial-charging-systems) - [Electric Mining Machinery](https://www.crownbattery.com/electric-mining-machinery) - [Automated Guided Vehicles](https://www.crownbattery.com/automated-guided-vehicles) - [Railroad & Stationary Generator Systems](https://www.crownbattery.com/railroad-stationary-generator-systems) ![Nav-Image-Industrial](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/Mockup%20Images/Nav-Image-Industrial.jpg) #### Motive Power Batteries From industrial to renewable energy, our batteries deliver the power you need—built to last, engineered for performance. - [Transportation](https://www.crownbattery.com/crown-battery-sli) - [Material Handling](https://www.crownbattery.com/material-handling-battery) - [Golf, Utility & LSEV](https://www.crownbattery.com/golf-utility-lsev) - [Trucking, Heavy Equipment, Agriculture, Transit & First Response](https://www.crownbattery.com/trucking-heavy-equipment-agriculture-transit-first-response) - [Automotive Aftermarket](https://www.crownbattery.com/automotive-aftermarket) - [Rental Equipment, MEWPS & Traffic Management](https://www.crownbattery.com/rental-equipment-mewps-traffic-management) - [Floor Care & Cleaning Equipment](https://www.crownbattery.com/floor-care-cleaning-equipment) - [Marine/Recreational Watercraft](https://www.crownbattery.com/marine-recreational-watercraft) - [Renewable Energy Storage](https://www.crownbattery.com/renewable-energy-storage) - [Power Management](https://www.crownbattery.com/power-management) ![Nav-Image-SLI](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/Mockup%20Images/Nav-Image-SLI.jpg) #### Transportation | Energy Storage Batteries Powering your vehicle with durable, high-performance SLI batteries built for reliability and longevity. - [Power.Match.](https://www.crownbattery.com/power-match) - Resources - [Resources - Motive Power ](https://www.crownbattery.com/resources-motive-power) - [Resources - Transportation & Energy Storage](https://www.crownbattery.com/resources-transportation-energy) - [Blog](https://www.crownbattery.com/news) - [Webinars](https://www.crownbattery.com/webinars) - [Events](https://www.crownbattery.com/events) - [Glossary of Terms](https://www.crownbattery.com/glossary-of-terms) ![Transportation-SAFTEY-FIRST](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/Mockup%20Images/Transportation-SAFTEY-FIRST.jpg) #### Explore Our Power & Energy Resources Access expert insights, industry guides, and educational resources to power your success. - [Find a Dealer](https://www.crownbattery.com/how-to-buy) - About Us - [About Us](https://www.crownbattery.com/about-us) - [Quality](https://www.crownbattery.com/quality) - [Sustainability](https://www.crownbattery.com/sustainability) - [Safety](https://www.crownbattery.com/safety) - [Careers](https://www.crownbattery.com/employment) ![crown-world-smal-min](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/Mockup%20Images/crown-world-smal-min.jpg) #### Get to Know Crown Battery Learn about our legacy, commitment to innovation, and the power behind our solutions. 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November 08, 2017 | Posted by: [ Crown Battery ](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/author/crown-battery) - Tags: - [Forklift](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/topic/forklift)     ![should you buy a new or reconditioned electric forklift battery?](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/2017-crown-battery-should-you-buy-a-new-or-reconditioned-electric-forklift-battery-1.jpg) If your business uses forklifts and other industrial machinery, you probably know all too well how new equipment costs can build up. So naturally, when it comes time to replace an [electric forklift battery](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/basics-of-a-forklift-battery-handling-cost-charging), it seems reasonable to look for a used or reconditioned battery rather than a new one that may have a heftier price tag. But can you know what you’re getting at a lower cost? A forklift is only as good as its battery, and if [properly maintained](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/battery-maintenance-tips-getting-the-most-out-of-your-industrial-battery), a good battery can last years. Because of this potential longevity, it’s possible to recondition used forklift batteries for resale and continue to get plenty of use out of them. However, cost is not the only consideration when [purchasing a replacement battery](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/broken-forklift-batteries-replace-or-repair) for your forklift. Here’s our take:   ## **The Cheaper Option: Reconditioned Batteries** Because companies that recondition batteries for resale are not manufacturing a whole new battery, used and reconditioned forklift batteries are often cheaper than buying them new. That’s not to say, however, that no work at all goes into reconditioned batteries. As the name implies, reconditioned batteries go through several steps to get them into the best possible working condition, including testing, charging, desulfation, and cleaning. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to know the maintenance history of a used battery before it is reconditioned. No matter how carefully a battery is charged and equalized during reconditioning, poor charging practices earlier in the battery’s life could have permanently damaged the battery’s ability to hold a full charge, greatly affecting its performance down the line. In addition, while some [sulfation](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/sulfation-and-battery-maintenance) is reversible, it can also be permanent if left untreated for too long. It is unlikely that a reconditioned electric forklift battery seller would allow a battery with permanent sulfation back onto the market, but buying from companies with less experience or a poor reputation could result in receiving an unworkable battery.   ## **The Benefits of Brand New** While they may be more expensive than used, new forklift batteries have the potential to give you huge returns on your investment. As we mentioned previously, a [properly maintained battery can last years](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/how-to-extend-the-life-of-your-battery), giving you lots of working hours with a forklift at peak performance. [Maintaining a forklift battery](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/5-steps-to-forklift-battery-maintenance) requires only that you build best practices such as charging properly, checking fluid levels, and equalizing batteries into your workplace routine. As just another part of using a forklift, proper battery maintenance can help you get the most out of your industrial machinery.   As the only owner of a new battery, you know exactly how well your battery has been maintained, and how much longer it will deliver the performance you need. This peace of mind, combined with a better ROI, takes the risk and guesswork out of replacing an electric forklift battery and keeps your business running like it should be.   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/435823/8ebc5469-4463-463b-be1b-05a18076e0c6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/435823/8ebc5469-4463-463b-be1b-05a18076e0c6) ## Recommend Posts [![Forklift](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/shutterstock_1323888896.jpg) ](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/electric-vs-propane-forklifts) ##### [Electric vs. Propane Forklifts: Choosing the Right Type](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/electric-vs-propane-forklifts) When it comes to material handling, there are three types of motive power to choose from: electric, ... 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[ READ MORE ](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/how-a-centralized-buying-system-can-benefit-your-organization) [![Basics of a Forklift Battery: Handling, Cost & Charging](https://www.crownbattery.com/hubfs/2020%20IMAGES/Blog%20Images/201702_Crown_BlogIMG_Charging-Best-Practices_V3.jpg) ](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/basics-of-a-forklift-battery-handling-cost-charging) ##### [Basics of a Forklift Battery: Handling, Cost & Charging](https://www.crownbattery.com/news/basics-of-a-forklift-battery-handling-cost-charging) If a forklift keeps your business moving, your forklift needs a battery that will keep it moving. A ... 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