Crown receives $1 million grant for fuel cell research

The company aims to identify any modifications its lift trucks will need to run on fuel cell power.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 4/3/2008

Electric lift truck manufacturer Crown Equipment Corp. has received a nearly $1 million grant from the state of Ohio for hydrogen fuel cell research.

According to the company, Crown’s project will focus on addressing the technical and commercial barriers to using battery-replacement fuel cell power packs in industrial lift trucks.

“There are several considerations to evaluate before a wide range of lift trucks are offered with a fuel cell as its power source,” says Crown president Jim Dicke III. “In the current design, the battery provides a counterweight to the load. Fuel cells are much lighter. We need to explore solutions and make sure all systems are compatible to ensure the critical performance characteristics of a lift truck.”

Crown intends to review the performance of each unique combination of its lift trucks with fuel cell power. The company says its study should reveal any modifications required to maintain the intended use of the lift truck while complying with industry standards.

The grant is provided by the Ohio Department of Development and Ohio’s Third Frontier Commission.

“We are pleased with the state of Ohio and its overall efforts in working with Crown to maintain a strong manufacturing base here,” says Dicke. “Crown also appreciates being recognized as a leader in the progression of fuel cell technology.”