Hyster is shipping a hydrogen fuel cell reachstacker to the Port of Valencia in Spain as part of the H2Ports project.

The H2Ports project, a collaboration between the Valenciaport Foundation and the Port Authority, is financed by the European Union’s Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) program.

The project was first announced in late 2021 when the Port of Valencia said it would be the first port in Europe to incorporate hydrogen technologies to reduce the environmental impact of its terminal machinery operations.

Earlier this year, port officials travelled to the Hyster-Yale Group facilities in Weeze, Germany to test the operation of the hydrogen reachstacker.

Now the reachstacker will be tested and validated in live operation at the MSC terminal in Valencia, one of the largest container terminals in Europe.

The zero-emission reachstacker uses a Nuvera Fuel Cell Engine to convert hydrogen into electricity. The hydrogen is stored on board in high-pressure tanks and can be refilled in 10 to 15 minutes. 

The onboard hydrogen fuel cell charges the batteries, which power the electric motors and hydraulic systems enabling the reachstacker to lift laden containers with similar performance to a diesel-powered alternative.

Without a diesel engine, transmission and other mechanically-driven components, the hydrogen reachstacker reduces operating costs as well as noise pollution.

Hyster director of global market development Jan-Willem van den Brand says: “The hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker is a breakthrough innovation that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction.

"We look forward to seeing it in action at the Port of Valencia and to receiving valuable feedback from the end-users.”