The present disclosure relates to an electric forklift and a method of driving the same which are capable of increasing a lifespan of a battery, and the electric forklift includes: a traveling motor which operates a wheel; a working machine motor which operates a working machine; a control unit which controls the operations of the traveling motor and the working machine motor based on an output control signal inputted from the outside; a battery which supplies electric power to the traveling motor, the working machine motor, and the control unit; and a temperature detecting unit which detects a temperature of the battery, in which the control unit controls an operation of at least one of the traveling motor and the working machine motor based on a detected temperature from the temperature detecting unit.