General Hydrogen (Canada) Corp (GH) power units, with Ballard Power Systems Inc fuel cells, will be available soon for commercial sales in the forklift market.

A spokesman for Ballard, of Burnaby, Canada, said the company planned soon to deliver more than 100 Mark9 SSL fuel cells for integration into power units from GH, of Richmond. Power output ranges from 4.8 kilowatts to 21.1 kilowatts.

GH plans to focus on applications for Class I electric motor rider forklifts during 2006 with an emphasis on the US market. GH's field trials used fuel cell-equipped power units on forklifts in grocery and retail distribution, cold storage, warehousing and automotive manufacturing applications.

The company can install the power units in existing or new forklifts, but the most likely market entrée is replacement of batteries in existing fleets. No truck modification is required.

GH has had discussions with most forklift manufacturers and anticipates ongoing work with them.