Fuel cell powered fleet shows some bottle

The past few years have seen growing investment in the development of fuel-cell technology, particularly in the USA. Crown has been researching fuel-cell forklift applications for more than seven years and in 2008 set up its own dedicated fuel-cell research and test centre.

Crown also initiated the industry's first fuel-cell qualification programme and has now qualified more than 20 models to operate with fuel-cells in the US market, many of which are already in use at customer locations.

Now a new fleet of 35 Crown FC 4500 Series counterbalanced lift trucks, fitted with fuel cells, has been delivered to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, further demonstrating the lift truck manufacturer's strength in the strategic deployment of fuel cell-powered forklifts.

Fuel cells can power lift trucks with a steady, non-stop flow of energy for up to two shifts in a row.

And with minimal training, lift-truck drivers can easily look after refuelling the trucks themselves.