GenDrive fuel cell technology

A fleet of 19 sit-down counterbalanced forklifts at the US Army's Forces Command at Fort Lewis will get GenDrive fuel cell power units and two years of managed integration, training and support services under a USD1.5 million demonstration project.

The US Department of Defence (DoD) funded the project, which includes a study and assessment on the use of wastewater treatment plant digester gas as a hydrogen source for fuel cells.

The GenDrive power units will be commissioned during the third quarter of 2010 and replace lead-acid batteries. Service personnel at Fort Lewis will use the fuel cell-powered forklifts for heavy maintenance work.

DoD designated the non-profit Centre for Transportation and the Environment of Atlanta, Georgia for project management and administration; Plug Power Inc of Latham, New York for supply of the GenDrive power units; Air Products and Chemicals Inc of Allentown, Pennsylvania for bulk hydrogen storage, compression and delivery services; the non-profit Gas Technology Institute of Des Plaines, Illinois for supply of a hydrogen generation reformer and gas clean-up system for digester gas; and Proterra LLC of Golden, Colorado for a fuel cell hybrid electric bus.

DoD's Defence Logistics Agency is managing pilot projects demonstrating the economic, operational and environmental benefits of powering material handling equipment with fuel cells. The Fort Lewis project is the third in a series of demonstrations.