Kion is planning to launch its own 24V fuel cell system for warehouse equipment in spring 2023. It will continue to complete its fuel cell portfolio in the coming years. Overall, the company will invest more than €11m in this technology.
Hydrogen fuel cell systems are ideal for warehouse operations as they do not generate any emissions during operation.
Energy is obtained through a chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen, which feeds a compact lithium-ion battery. This hybrid combination powers the forklift truck by supplying the drive and lifting motors with energy.
The fuel cell generates the electrical energy required to operate the forklift truck directly onboard. The only by-products generated during ‘cold combustion’ are heat, water vapor and pure water.
In particular, if the hydrogen used to power the fuel cell comes from regenerative sources, like biogas or electrolysis from sun or wind energy, it is also climate-neutral.
Hydrogen fuel cells do not contain toxic acids or other pollutants, making them easier to recycle and suitable for hygiene-critical industries, such as the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Fully refilling the tank can be done in under three minutes, minimising interruptions and increasing the availability of forklifts, said Kion. This is particularly advantageous for larger fleets and multi-shift operations.
“There is huge demand from our customers, and we hope that this technology will allow us to meet everincreasing calls for intralogistics to become more resource-conscious and sustainable, while at the same time also meet demands for rapid refuelling,” Kion Group chief executive, Rob Smith, said.
