Plug Power showcases fuel cell technology

Plug Power (Booth 2647) is exhibiting two counterbalanced lift trucks and a pallet truck, each equipped with GenDrive technology. GenDrive is the company’s line of hydrogen fuel cell power units designed to fully replace lead acid batteries in lift trucks and other materials handling vehicles.

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 4/23/2008 9:18:00 AM

Fuel cells last longer than batteries, take just a few minutes to refuel and only emit water vapor, said senior marketing communications specialist Ben Greenberg. The fuel cells also offer more consistent power than lead acid batteries do, eliminating the sluggishness lift trucks often experience at the end of a shift.

In addition, said Greenberg, a hydrogen refueling station is much smaller than a standard battery charging room, so switching from batteries to GenDrive units saves valuable space. (To see a hydrogen refueling station, visit the Air Products booth immediately next to Plug Power’s booth.)

Greenburg said fuel cells have great potential in the materials handling market, but they don’t yet make sense for every customer. Today, he said, Plug Power is specifically targeting customers who operate large fleets of lift trucks over multiple shifts. These customers will get the quickest payback on their investment.

Ballard Power Systems (Booth 3341) and lift truck maker Raymond (Booth 2819) are also featuring Plug Power GenDrive fuel cells at their booths.