Hyster Company is testing a top-pick container handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) at Fenix Marine Services in the Port of Los Angeles.

Based on the  standard Hyster H1050-1150XD-CH top-pick container handler design, the truck is powered by two 45kw hydrogen fuel cells from Nuvera, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster parent company Hyster-Yale Group. The HFC-powered top pick is designed to provide the zero emissions benefits of a battery electric option, with enough capacity to keep operators moving and avoid the need to stop in the middle of a shift to refuel or recharge.

Refueling the top pick with hydrogen fuel is expected to take approximately 15 minutes, with the intention to provide eight to 10 hours of continuous run time, all while producing no harmful emissions – only water and heat. The top pick is also equipped with a patented Hyster® energy recovery system for electric container handlers that recovers and stores energy from lowering loads and braking.

Source: Supply Post Read The Article

PSR Analysis.  A quick refueling time, 8 -10 hours running time and an energy recovery system should make this pilot quite successful provided they can secure hydrogen fuel. The quick refueling time also means that this equipment could also be run on a shift basis, minimizing machine idle time, too.    PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research