Hydrogen powered fuel cell forklifts — Demonstration of green warehouse logistics

An Austrian consortium of industry and research partners demonstrates a system solution for renewable hydrogen powered fuel cell range extender vehicles applied in intralogistics. The core element of this development, the “HYLOG Fleet Energy Cell” by Fronius International, replaces the lead-acid battery in conventional battery-electric propulsion systems for warehouse logistics. In collaboration with Linde Material Handling a warehouse truck fleet of 10 class-3 vehicles has been adapted accordingly a t an Austrian site of the global logistics company DB Schenker. Renewable hydrogen is supplied by the oil and gas company OMV using a decentral biomethane steam reformer, installed onsite at the logistic facility. The warehouse trucks are fuelled indoors for the first time in Europe. Operation experiences show that warehouse logistics is in particular attractive for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies due to increased productivity, reduced maintenance and reduced life-cycle Greenhouse gas emissions.