Air Products is the lead contractor for the two-year Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) R&D demonstration pilot project, with the fuel cell power units for the forklifts being supplied by Massachusetts-based Nuvera Fuel Cells.
In the pilot project, DDSP personnel will operate 20 fuel cell-powered forklifts in daily operations alongside lead-acid battery forklifts, outside the scope pilot project. In addition, the fueling station will be used to support an additional 20 fuel cell-powered forklifts provided by DLA.
Data to compare costs and operational characteristics will be collected and analyzed to support the development and commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell technologies for Department of Defense operations.
The DDSP project is the first in a series of three research and development pilots of fuel cell and associated hydrogen fueling technologies within the Defense Distribution Center.
‘The program at this location provides for a side-by-side comparison during routine operations of the traditional lead-acid battery technology and the advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology,’ says Brian O’Neil, program manager for hydrogen energy systems at Air Products. ‘We believe the performance of the hydrogen-powered materials handling equipment will clearly demonstrate operational, economic and environmental benefits.’