Noordin Nanji

Cost reduction was a key factor in making fuel cell technology commercially viable for materials handling applications, Ballard vice president Noordin Nanji said.

Ballard Power Systems and Cellex Power Products have been awarded funding from the US Department of Defence (DoD) for a materials handling equipment application cost reduction and demonstration program.

The DoD research and development contract is worth USD5.88 million. Ballard and Cellex each receive half the contract's value.

"The support provided through the DoD for cost reduction activities is a great example of tangible government investment in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector," Nanji said.

The program aimed to benefit the US Armed Forces' logistics operations by further developing and demonstrating proton exchange membrane fuel cell solutions for the materials handling market.

Ballard will engage in technology and product development activities to further reduce the cost of its Mark9 SSL fuel cell product, designed mainly for materials handling applications.

There will be a one-year field trial to demonstrate the improved productivity of fuel cells, compared to lead acid batteries, in a high throughput distribution centre in Michigan.

Cellex Power Products, acquired by Plug Power this month (Forkliftaction.com News #302), will implement a 40 unit commercial trial of its fuel cell power units, using Ballard's Mark9 SSL fuel cell, for class three forklifts.

Cellex vice president for sales and marketing Tom Hoying said the project helped move commercialisation of fuel cell solutions for forklifts forward.

The program was part of a broader initiative involving US Army TACOM, the Interagency Technical Support Working Group, Kettering University, Macomb Community College and Selfridge Air National Guard Base.