Focus On: Hydrogen-Fueled Fleets [ Return to Solutions by Industry ]

Hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts are at the forefront of sustainable solutions for industry today.

Air Liquide’s global hydrogen-fueled fleet services is helping move fleets across the globe toward a more efficient, more profitable and more environmentally responsible means of material handling. Hydrogen-powered forklifts employing advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology will make an operation of any size more efficient and cost effective.

Key Growth Market

Air Liquide will provide the bulk hydrogen supply, filling station and infrastructure to power Coca-Cola’s forklift fleet at its 250,000 square foot facility in San Leandro, California. Using these vehicles can help Coca-Cola save 1.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually by removing the infrastructure associated with traditional lead-acid batteries.

Press Release: Air Liquide in the U.S. to power Coca-Cola hydrogen forklift fleet

Hydrogen-powered forklifts versus battery-powered vehicles

Since there is no need for battery recharging and servicing, hydrogen-powered forklifts deliver a 2-5% productivity gain versus battery powered vehicles. Hydrogen-powered vehicles can be refueled from conveniently located fueling stations in less than four minutes, reducing time and eliminating the need for a dedicated battery-charging area and support.

Hydrogen fuel cells can be retrofitted into existing forklift trucks in the space required by lead batteries. The required infrastructure can also easily integrate into existing space using conveniently located, small-footprint refueling stations.

Air Liquide and Plug Power have a strategic relationship that allows us to offer our customers a more customized solution for their operation to ensure convenience, efficiency and savings.

Essentially greenhouse gas emissions free

Air Liquide’s hydrogen fuel cell solutions aid in reducing greenhouse emissions and the company’s carbon footprint. Unlike the by-products produced by batteries, water is the only by-product produced by hydrogen fuel cells. Integrating hydrogen fuel cell technology also eliminates the need to change and dispose of hazardous lead batteries.

Mass Transit

In 2010, Air Liquide provided more than 40,000 hydrogen fills worldwide including the hydrogen and filling infrastructure for transit buses for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Air Liquide has the largest fueling station in the world and a number of other filling installations in North America, including those for buses and other vehicles.