Forklifts could soon be powered by hydrogen following a landmark agreement between industrial gases company BOC and fuel cell supplier Cellex Power Products.

BOC and Cellex are working together to develop hydrogen supply solutions to power forklifts in large warehouses across North America. Under the partnership agreement, Cellex will supply hydrogen power units, and BOC will provide indoor refuelling facilities for field trials.

BOC hydrogen energy global director John Carolin told Forkliftaction.com News that real-world trials of hydrogen-powered forklifts would last three months, and take place at sites in the USA and Canada.

"These trials will show customers how hydrogen fuel cells can improve productivity by removing the downtime and performance loss in battery-powered trucks, and reducing the safety risks associated with handling lead-acid batteries," he said.

"Also, hydrogen refuelling systems are considerably smaller than typical battery recharging facilities, which will free up additional floor space."

Cellex Power sales and marketing vice-president Tom Hoyling said Cellex had logged "hundreds" of days in field trials since February 2002.

"The next step (is to) demonstrate the safe and efficient fuelling of hydrogen at customer locations," he said.

BOC has customers in more than 50 countries and employs 44,500 people. It had annual sales of more than USD7 billion in 2003.

Cellex was formed in 1998 and focuses on developing fuel cell products to increase productivity for customers' operating fleets of electric forklifts.

Forkliftaction.com News last month published two special features about industrial batteries and chargers. Click here to read part one of the series, and click here for part two.