Discussion:
Fuel Cells

What's the lastest on the Fuel Cell technology? Will it ever get a chance in the Forklift industry?
  • Posted 3 Feb 2005 22:37
  • Discussion started by dougster
  • Florida, United States
Showing items 1 - 4 of 4 results.
I have a customer that has tried and sent back a fuel cell forklift. It is impractical at this time. The truck required a trailer outside to produce / store the hydrogen, and the truck had to be refuled often since it was using a same size tank as the LPG lifts. Hydrogen doesn't liquify until around 25 degrees Kelvin, so in order to pack as much fuel as a LPG truck into the same space would require obscene cryogenics + pressure (not real practical)
so what happens is that you can only store it in gas form rather than a liquid like propane.
  • Posted 20 Jan 2009 05:35
  • Reply by Arclite
  • Georgia, United States
US Department of Energy (DOE) laying out industrial targets for fuel cell cost, durability and performance.
Stack life time : 5,000hrs, Freeze start in 30sec to get 90% power at -20 degC, Power density : 2kw net/liter and Cost : 30US$/kw by 2010.
Besides fuel cell stack, fuel storage is another issue for vehicle installation and hydrogen distribution infrastructure, which forklift industry has an advantage as stated by Kodiak.
Forklift industry of which scale is roughly one hundredth to automobile industry is sitting on "Big brother", whether we like it or not. I believe no forklift manufacturer alone can hit the DOE targets set for fuel cell stack.
Two days ago, Toyota Forklift announced their prototype, rather a concept lift truck, powered by hybrid of fuel cell and capacitor at this CeMAT. Toyota fuel cell automobiles are now released to fleet users still in a small scale, but surely commercialized. Forklift industry, I think, follows in two years time.
  • Posted 14 Oct 2005 00:14
  • Reply by tate_i
  • Tokyo, Japan
Fuel cells are definately in the early stages. However, I don't think the forklift industry need wait on the automobile industry to pioneer this. Cost is definitly an issue but from an infrastructure standpoint forklifts lead the way.

With a large user you have quite a captive audience. Assume 50-100 units all in 1 facility. Logistically it would be easier to access 50-100 forklifts than 50-100 automobiles. An on-site fueling station would be simple compared to fitting multiple gas stations with equipment to meet a limited demand.

Companies like Cellex and General Hydrogen have tested products in warehousing applications.
  • Posted 16 Sep 2005 05:46
  • Reply by Kodiak
  • Ohio, United States
There have been already a number of prototypes. But, Modern Materials Handling magazine commented "....fuel cell technology is in early development stage" (March '05 page 66).

Commercialization in this industry entirely depends (1) infrastructure and (2) cost, and we need to wait our big brother, automobile industry who is about 100 times bigger than forklift business scale, pioneers these two issues.

2007 surely be a epoch year.
  • Posted 6 Apr 2005 12:09
  • Reply by tate_i
  • Tokyo, Japan

Post your Reply

Forkliftaction.com accepts no responsibility for forum content and requires forum participants to adhere to the rules. Click here for more information.

Having trouble using the Discussion Forums? Contact us for help.

Upcoming in the editorial calendar
FORKLIFT DAMAGE PREVENTION
Nov 2024
AGV FORKLIFT MANUFACTURERS
Feb 2025
Global Industry News
edition #1199 - 3 October 2024
New data reveals "mixed supply chain dynamics" for the US materials handling sector with new shipments and overall business activity increasing while new orders and inventories fell, according to the MHI Business Activity Index (BAI)... Continue reading
Upcoming industry events …
October 8-10, 2024 - Antwerp, Austria
October 23-25, 2024 - Ningbo, China
November 26-28, 2024 - Kololi, Gambia, The
Upcoming in the editorial calendar
FORKLIFT DAMAGE PREVENTION
Nov 2024
AGV FORKLIFT MANUFACTURERS
Feb 2025

PREMIUM business

Hangzhou Manforce Material Handling Equipment Co., Ltd
Specializing in Nichi and conventional forklift products, we create significant value for all our partners!
Movers & Shakers
Brendan Bullard Brendan Bullard
vice president of sales for Clark North America, Clark North America
head of projects UK , Exotec
vice president of operations for North America, Palfinger
Chief executive officer, Sany America