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Fuel Cell Technology

Intralogistics with hydrogen drive

Powering intralogistics with hydrogen

Having to choose between cost-effective intralogistics and taking a climate-neutral approach has long been a thing of the past. Innovative energy systems like fuel cell technology allow you to run your industrial trucks in seamless multi-shift operation, without producing CO2 emissions in the process. This is achieved by using of sustainably produced, green hydrogen.

Fuel cell

Advantages of the STILL fuel cell technology

Application

  • Saves time as there is no need to change battery
  • High truck availability due to quick filling time of approx. 2–3 minutes
  • Continuous energy supply with no drops in performance
  • Indoor and outdoor use with operating times of up to 8 hours

Infrastructure

  • Space-saving and flexible integration of dispensers (fuel pumps) along the transport routes
  • No storage or charging rooms required
  • No ventilation systems required
  • Hydrogen can be generated in-house using electrolysis

Environmentally friendly

  • Zero emissions – only ‘waste products’ are water/steam
  • Clean energy source – ideal for hygiene-critical industries
  • Reduction of carbon footprint
  • No use of rare earth minerals

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The full length webinar.


Fuel cell technology

Trucks with fuel cells

STILL offers you the option of ordering selected trucks as a ‘fuel cell ready’ version ex works, which works in a similar way to the ‘Li-ion ready’ option. With this option, the truck is designed to accommodate a specific fuel cell, and the fuel cell can be integrated, subsequently if need be, as per the customer’s wishes.

The more hydrogen-powered industrial trucks in operation, the more efficient the fuel cell energy system. That is why we have 24 V, 48 V and 80 V fuel cell systems available for our portfolio of order pickers, tow tractors, high lift pallet trucks, reach trucks and counterbalanced forklift trucks.

Generally speaking, fuel cell technology is ideal for truck applications with a high number of operating hours or multi-shift operations.


Energy carrier of the future for intralogistics

Hydrogen as an energy source

A compact molecule with a lot of energy. In the world of energy sources, hydrogen is the future. Thanks to the use of regeneratively produced electricity, it can be produced in a climate-neutral way, and is ideal for industrial applications, heat and power generation, as well as for mobility and intralogistics. Hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air, non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-radioactive. Hydrogen is not susceptible to spontaneous combustion, and burns cleanly with a colourless flame. In short, hydrogen is packed full of energy and can be produced as a greener, carbon-neutral sustainable energy source.

Fuel cells in intralogistics

When we talk about fuel cells in the industrial trucks sector, we mean ‘battery replacement modules’ (BRMs). A BRM is a closed system and corresponds to a specific battery compartment in its shape, size and weight. The BRM contains all the components required to generate electricity. These include the fuel cells, the hydrogen tank, tank ports and a small lithium-ion battery, as well as other components.

Once the tank is filled with hydrogen, which only takes a few moments, the fuel cell produces electrical energy for the intended application directly on board the truck. The process generates emissions of pure water vapour or water. The integrated lithium-ion battery acts as an energy store, supplying the truck with a constant flow of energy. Through this process, any excess or recovered energy is stored temporarily, which means that the truck can easily cater for peaks in electricity consumption, e.g. when lifting a load.


STILL fuel cell technology in practice

Carrefour

Back in 2018, the French retail company Carrefour introduced a hydrogen-powered fleet of 137 STILL warehouse technology trucks into its new logistics centre in Vendin-Le-Vieil in northern France. With its two-phase HyLIFT-EUROPE project, which was funded by the EU, the partners are setting a milestone for the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source and demonstrating that this technology is reliable in tough day-to-day logistics.

Corstyrène

In late 2021, the first-ever green hydrogen filling station on the island of Corsica is set to open, at the production site of the specialist thermal insulation company Corstyrène in Aléria. The electrolyser used to produce the hydrogen required will be supplied with up to 99 kWc from solar panels installed on the plant’s car park. In the first phase, this will produce enough energy to fill seven STILL RX 20 fuel cell forklift trucks.


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