Hydrogen to revolutionise drive trains of materials handling vehicles in Europe

Hydrogen to revolutionise drive trains of materials handling vehicles in Europe

The HyLIFT-DEMO and HyLIFT-EUROPE projects, co-funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), enter into the next phase: the large scale demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell materials handling vehicles at end user sites. These projects are an important step towards commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles for materials handling in Europe and have demonstrated in excess of 1,000 operating hours per truck and 1,000 refuelling events per station to date. Opportunities remain for fleet operators to take advantage of the high efficiency, zero emission vehicles available under these projects.

The overall aim of the HyLIFT projects is to conduct large scale demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell materials handling vehicles to accelerate commercial market introduction of this technology.

A hydrogen-powered materials handling vehicle with a fuel cell combines the advantages of diesel / LPG and battery powered vehicles. Hydrogen provides the same consistent power and fast refuelling capability as diesel and LPG, whilst fuel cells provide energy efficient and zero emission electric propulsion similar to batteries.

The HyLIFT projects will see the demonstration of the 2.5 ton STILL forklift RX 60-25 and other STILL trucks, and the MULAG airport tow tractor Comet 3 FC. In total the demonstration of 200 vehicles is planned. HyLIFT-DEMO involves the partners LBST (coordination), H2 Logic (fuel cell system supply), DTU (R&D of future product generations), Linde (hydrogen competence), JRC (fuel cell system laboratory testing), SINTEF (accelerated durability tests), FAST/EHA (dissemination) and TÜV SÜD (certification support) whereas HyLIFT-EUROPE involves the partners LBST (coordination), STILL (forklifts and warehouse trucks), MULAG (airport tow tractors), Air Products (relocatable fuelling station supply and hydrogen competence), CHN (hydrogen stations), Element Energy (total cost of ownership calculations), FAST/EHA (dissemination), JRC (validation tests), Heathrow Airport (support vehicle usage) and H2 Logic (fuel cell systems and refuelling hardware).

An initial success of the projects is that first vehicles have clocked over 1,000 hrs of operation at an end-user site while the number of refuelling procedures at the corresponding hydrogen refuelling station has amounted to 1,000 to date.

This shows that fuel cell drive trains are a feasible and sustainable alternative for customers using either diesel or LPG today.

“We hope that we are able to tie in with the success of fuel cell trucks in the USA as well in Europe with support of the HyLIFT-EUROPE project”, states Michael Arndt, Head of Product Management of STILL GmbH. STILL provides customized solutions for intralogistics worldwide implementing the intelligent management of material handling equipment, software and services.

“The market is requesting alternative drive systems to reduce emissions. We believe in fuel cells as a leading drive system for the future”, states Dr. Peter Esser, Managing Director of MULAG Fahrzeugwerk. MULAG is a leading manufacturer of Ground Support Equipment for airports and industrial tow tractors.

”We are ready to showcase that fuel cells for material handling vehicles are emerging as a competitive alternative on parameters such as performance, cost, service and in particular emissions”, states director in H2 Logic, Jacob Krogsgaard. H2 Logic is a leading manufacturer of fuel cell systems for material handling vehicles such as forklifts and tow tractors and hydrogen refuelling stations for fuel cell powered vehicles.

Market introduction has already begun in the USA where customers are increasingly opting for fuel cell material handling vehicles offering an attractive value proposition whilst providing energy efficient and zero emission electric propulsion.

For details of how to participate in the vehicle demonstrations and for further information please visit www.hylift.eu or contact coordinator(at)hylift.eu.