Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc has installed its first hydrogen generation system for fuel cell applications at its partner East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc's Topton, Pennsylvania, distribution centre.

Nuvera Fuel Cells and East Penn agreed to develop a hybrid battery and fuel cell electric power source for forklifts and other off-road industrial vehicles in January 2005 (Forkliftaction.com News #191).

Hydrogen generated by the PowerTap system will power a fleet of fuel cell-powered forklifts. The system has been implemented as part of a field test of the new ReadyPower unit, which combines Nuvera's fuel cell technology and East Penn's advanced lead-acid battery design.

PowerTap global market leader Charles Myers said PowerTap was designed with the objective of producing on-site hydrogen in the most cost-effective way for delivery to the fleet of forklifts.

"This hydrogen source is economically attractive and a viable source of alternative energy for warehouses and distribution centres today."

PowerTap's PTG-50 generation module produces hydrogen from natural gas at a rate of 2.4kg/hour. Nuvera's proprietary technology, using pressure swing absorption technology and providing hydrogen at a minimum purity of 99.995 per cent, is at the core of the PTG-50.