In a move to find alternative energy sources for forklifts, a US-based trial program will see military forklifts refitted with hydrogen fuel cells.
The two-year demonstration program, delivered by technology developer Concurrent Technologies Corp (CTC), will run 20 forklifts on the renewable hydrogen fuel to implement clean technology into the warehouse environment.
Last month, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) began the fuel cell forklift pilot project on Robins Air Force Base in Georgia as the second in a series of research and development demonstrations.
Forklifts now operate on traditional rechargeable batteries and onsite operators will reform natural gas to extract the hydrogen for the project.
CTC of Johnstown, Pennsylvania is collaborating with hydrogen supplier Air Products and Chemicals Inc and the Canadian fuel cell power product creator Hydrogenics Corp to complete the retrofit process.
According to the companies, an immediate operational benefit is eliminating the extensive process to recharge batteries, with a mobile refueller expected to complete the process much quicker with hydrogen.