A Linde forklift equipped with HyPX Fuel Cell Power Packs

Tyre giant Michelin has taken delivery of two new hydrogen-powered fuel cell forklifts, the first to roll off the line at LiftOne and Engineered Solutions in Columbia, SC.

The forklifts have been equipped with HyPX Fuel Cell Power Packs manufactured by Hydrogenics of Toronto, Canada (Forkliftaction.com News #316) and installed by LiftOne in electric forklifts manufactured by Linde Materials Handling of Summerville, SC.

Both units are being used at Michelin's Columbia plant, the first of six two- week evaluations at facilities in the greater Columbia area.

"The promise of hydrogen-powered equipment has long been a dream of many of our customers looking to find more environmentally friendly ways of doing business," says LiftOne general manager, Bill Ryan, adding that the promise has become more of a reality.

Hydrogenics has been developing and commercialising hydrogen and fuel cell technologies since 1995 and is a world leader in this emerging clean energy industry.

The roll-out reflects South Carolina's commitment to alternative fuels, with the project sponsored as part of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge. The Challenge is a collaborative effort between the City of Columbia, the University of South Carolina, EngenuitySC and the South Carolina Research Authority, whose collective mission is to accelerate the deployment and adoption of a wide array of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within the Midlands region of South Carolina.

Launched in the summer of 2006, the challenge has awarded 10 projects to date. The Hydrogenics-LiftOne project is the most ambitious initiative among those already funded.

"The amount of interest we have had in this project from so many of our South Carolina customers has been huge," says Ryan. After the first deployment at Michelin, the other clients who have asked to be involved in this evaluation include PBR, ISOLA Laminates and Leigh Fibers.