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oxygen, it will generate electricity to
power the forklift’s electric motor.
In the process of the hydrogen fuel’s
conversion to electricity through
a chemical reaction in the cell,
electricity is produced, and this is
used to power the electric motor
that drives the vehicle. The process
is very clean because, unlike a conventional
fossil fuel engine, a fuel cell
doesn't burn the hydrogen. Instead,
it's fused chemically with oxygen
producing electricity and water,
which is the primary emission from
the vehicle giving the vehicle clean,
green credentials.
W H O W I L L
U S E T H I S
T E C H N O L O G Y ?
The sustainability delivered by
Hyster’s new work vehicles is
applicable to an entire range of
future-focussed industries, including
particularly materials handling, manufacturing,
warehousing, distribution
and processing operations. It is also
directly relevant to major resources
companies (such as mining, oil and
gas) that are seeking to reduce their
operations’ environmental footprint
in remote and sensitive areas,
as well as environmentally aware
utilities including local authorities,
energy, water and waste water
engineering facilities and transport
and automotive service facilities
where workers may be exposed to
environmental and workplace OB&S
hazards.
Requirements essential to
the success of the use of this
technology include a steady,
cost-effective supply of hydrogen,
which can be delivered, generated
on-site or employing a fleet
dispenser system such as Hyster-
Yale’s proven Nuvera system.
O N T H E W O R L D ’ S
S TA G E
Currently, Hyster hydrogen vehicles
are on sale in North America and
Hyster-Yale Asia Pacific plans to
introduce the line in Australia "in
future years".
For now, the system is limited by
economies of scale with significant
refuelling station investment
required, somewhat limiting abilities
to large fleet operators.
Home Depot, Ikea and Walmart are
examples of major players adopting
such technology. Home Depot uses
hydrogen-powered forklifts (about
200 units) in Ohio, while Ikea’s Saint-
Quentin-Fallavier distribution centre
in France has had 20 fuel cell forklifts
since 2014 and Walmart has Plug
Power GenDrive fuel cells in 19 distribution
centres to power its forklifts.
A B O U T
H Y S T E R - YA L E
From narrow aisle warehouse trucks
to heavy-duty container handling
equipment, Hyster-Yale is leading
the way.
Hyster-Yale designs, engineers,
manufactures, sells, and services
a portfolio of materials handling
equipment that is among the most
comprehensive in the industry.
Hyster-Yale covers hundreds of
end-user applications in more than
700 industries. Its products include
a full range of electric and internal
combustion engine lift trucks for
indoor and outdoor applications.
From narrow aisle warehouse trucks
to the toughest cargo handling
equipment, its counterbalanced lift
trucks are recognised as some of
the most productive in the world.
Hyundai's Scott Nargar
/www.engineeringnews.co.nz