Eight US senators are seeking to relaunch a bipartisan fuel cell and hydrogen caucus for development and commercialisation of the related technologies.

Meanwhile, Plug Power Inc of Latham, New York has described its fulfillment of a significant fuel-cell order from a Mercedes-Benz US International Inc automotive plant in the south-east US.

Three senators - Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut; John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota; and Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware - hosted a Senate policy briefing on 18 July in Washington as a first step in the resumed effort for the caucus.

The caucus aims to help demonstrate interest on Capitol Hill to maintain US leadership in the fuel cell market and to identify further policy and investment solutions to support these technologies.

Andy Marsh, Plug Power chief executive officer, told the senators how fuel cell-powered forklifts are creating a return on their investment in less than two years, while saving space in the warehouse and time due to the fast refueling capability with hydrogen.

The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance reports the operation of fuel cell-powered forklifts at BMW, Bridgestone-Firestone, Kimberly-Clark/Genco and Michelin in the Palmetto State. The non-profit public/private alliance is based in Columbia, South Carolina.

Shannon Baxter-Clemmons, executive director of the alliance, says, "It is imperative that we unite as a nation to support hydrogen and fuel cell technology - a US clean energy technology - as part of our all-of-the-above energy security strategy. This is a crucial year for the industry, and we need to maintain our place as a global leader in developing alternative energy and fuels."

Other senators in the caucus include Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina; Daniel Akaka, Democrat of Hawaii; Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon; Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan; and Jon Tester, Democrat of Montana.

US Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, chairs the House of Representatives' hydrogen and fuel cell caucus, which has 40 members.

In one example of fuel cell implementation, Mercedes-Benz US International purchased 72 of Plug Power's GenDrive hydrogen fuel cell units to operate its Hyster electric forklift fleet in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Plug Power has shipped and commissioned the full order. Air Products and Chemicals Inc of Allentown, Pennsylvania provided compact onsite hydrogen refueling stations. Operations began in July.

The majority power Class 3 pallet jacks with the remainder on Class 1 tuggers as part of the automotive plant's fleet.

Publicly traded Plug Power notes that, as the customer's operations grow, "Mercedes-Benz can add fuel cells to its fleet without the need to invest in additional batteries, charging space or dedicated employees."

The GenDrive units replaced lead-acid batteries that require charging areas and maintenance infrastructure.

"Mercedes-Benz is an exciting customer to add to Plug Power's growing list of fuel cell adopters," Marsh says. "We intend to prove the value of GenDrive fuel cells in Tuscaloosa in order to reinforce the benefits experienced in auto-manufacturing facilities across North America."

Mercedes-Benz US International is an operation of Daimler AG of Stuttgart, Germany.