A Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tyre used in passenger vehicles.

The Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) plant in Aiken County, South Carolina, is exchanging its electric forklifts for fuel cell-powered forklifts.

This year, the plant will exchange 23 forklifts and in 2009, another 20, to create an all-hydrogen fleet. BFNT officials and representatives from the Economic Development Partnership of South Carolina unveiled the new "green-powered" forklift fleet and announced the installation of a hydrogen fuel pump across from the plant for use by BFNT and other businesses last week.

Mike Rose, the plant manager, says the company is "very excited" about the green initiative.

"This is a natural step for a technology-focused company like Bridgestone ... We're proud to be among the first in the neighbourhood to use this green, clean fuel in our material movers."

The passenger and light truck tyre plant started using fuel cells during a prototype fuel cell project with Plug Power, formerly General Hydrogen, in January 2007.

The project is expanding on BFNT's success using hydrogen fuel cells to run industrial vehicles at other facilities. From its experience, BFNT found that hydrogen-powered vehicles run two to three times longer on a hydrogen fuel cell and take a quarter of the time to refuel compared to battery-powered forklifts.

Fred Humes, director of the Economic Development Partnership, praises Bridgestone Firestone's commitment to using alternative energy, calling it a "true testament" to the company's dedication to the environment and its community.

"The use of alternative energy sources like hydrogen fuel cells is key to our state's economic future," says Humes, who is also the founding chairman of the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance's board of directors.

The Aiken County plant has a history of implementing environmental initiatives including an on-site wildlife habitat and nature education area certified by the international Wildlife Habitat Council. The plant has also received environmental awards for pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. It is a charter member of the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track program.