An operation of the US Defence Logistics Agency (DLA) has a previously unpublicised budget of USD5.5 million for a fuel cell demonstration project at a depot in Georgia (Forkliftaction.com News #448).

The project came online in November 2009, is scheduled to conclude in November or December 2011 and uses funded appropriations for two fiscal years ended 30 September 2009.

Contingent on additional funding, the project scope could expand in late 2010 or early 2011 to include additional forklifts and other hydrogen-powered equipment.

The demonstration may transition to permanent operations if the project is successful and a meaningful business case for hydrogen-fueled operations exists.

DLA manages the project from New Cumberland, Pennsylvania and conducts the effort at a defence distribution depot that DLA operates on Robins air force base in Warner Robins, Georgia.

The demonstration uses newly built standard Crown FC 4500 series forklifts that are certified to operate with fuel cells. No special modifications were necessary.

The fuel cell requires hydrogen for operation, and the power module design includes ultra-capacitors for power storage and management. The ultra-capacitors allow for a short trip if the hydrogen supply has been exhausted, but they cannot be utilised for any significant time similar to a gas/battery combination in a hybrid car.

Non-profit technology developer Concurrent Technologies Corp of Johnstown, Pennsylvania is the prime and integration contractor. Air Products and Chemicals Inc of Allentown, Pennsylvania supplied a hydrogen fueling station and two mobile refuelers to distribute hydrogen from the generation site to locations across the depot. The hydrogen is generated using steam methane reformation. Hydrogenics Corp of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada provided the integrated fuel cell system. No modifications were made to the off-the-shelf fuel cell power module system.