Plug power's GenDrive

GenDrive fuel cell units from Plug Power Inc were displayed on forklifts during two stops on a 13-day Hydrogen Road Tour across the United States.

The Aiken, South Carolina plant of Bridgestone-Firestone North American Tire LLC and the Smyrna, Tennessee facility of Nissan North America Inc served as refueling locations for nine cars on the tour and showed fuel cell-equipped forklifts to visitors.

During the tour stop in Aiken, a GenDrive system was displayed on a class I sit-down counterbalance forklift.

A showing of similar fuel cell technology on a forklift took place during the stop at the Nissan test track in Smyrna.

A fuel cell can directly replace, and maintain a charge longer than, a battery. Changing and refuelling take less time, and a fuel cell's only emission is water vapour.

Plug Power of Latham, New York, has received orders for GenDrive units from Bridgestone-Firestone on five occasions. The tyre firm is converting 22 forklifts to GenDrive fuel cells this year as replacements for lead-acid batteries and expects to convert the remainder of the fleet in Aiken as equipment is retired. The plant makes tyres for passenger vehicles and light trucks.

Automotive manufacturer Nissan North America conducted plant trials with fuel-cell-powered forklifts last year.

Nissan Forklift Corporation North America manufactures forklifts that can use fuel cells, typically for warehouse applications. A Nissan unit conducts fuel cell research at a US facility in Sacramento, California, and other work occurs under the auspices of Nissan's industrial machinery division and the Nissan research laboratory, both based in Japan.

Nine automotive manufacturers, the US departments of energy and transportation, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association sponsored the tour to demonstrate how hydrogen vehicle and fuelling technologies are nearing commercialisation.