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.