Due to the ongoing discussion on climate change and the expected stricter regulations by the government on carbon dioxide emissions power consumption is of growing importance also for intralogistics. Key words such as energy efficiency for "zero emission" are proof of this trend. Against this background there is an increasing interest in alternative drives such as producing of electric power by fuel cells which is always mentioned together with a hydrogen industry, based on regenerative energies such as wind an sun. The Hamburg based Still GmbH has recognised these chances early and has already gathered much experience in different sized projects. The company is and innovation driver in the sector of warehouse equipment and is strongly engaged in the protection of the environment, for example, as an active member of the environmental partnership of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Already in 2003 Still participated in a project of the work group ARGEMUC at the airport in Munich in which an R60 electric fork lift truck was fitted with a fuel cell.

Since the end of 2006 the airport Hamburg operates two fuel cell driven R 07-25 tractors by Still to move baggage. In the long run the airport intends to replace the whole fleet (currently driven by internal combustion engines) and reduce exhaust emissions at the same time. Linde Gas supplies the hydrogen fuel station to fuel the trucks. These are two strong project partners for STILL to make this innovative drive fit for the future.

At the port of Hamburg, HHLA Rhenus will install a hydrogen fuel station to supply a STILL R 60 - 25 fuel cell truck.

At BASF Coatings one of the world’s leading companies in the paint industry two different vehicles with future oriented drives will take up industrial operation: an FM-X 20 reach truck and an R 60 electric lift truck.

In principle all systems made by Still are alike: they consist of the pack of fuel cells (performance of three by six kilowatts, for example), an electric intermediate energy storage storing the energy when braking, and feeding it back when accelerating, the gas tanks for the hydrogen (filled with a pressure of 350 bar and a content of 2.5 kilogram of hydrogen), a radiator, a compressor and an extra weight compensating the missing weight of the battery. The fuel cells are supplied by Hydrogenics and Nuvera.

Overview of the advantages of fuel cells

Clean energy

The operation of a truck with hydrogen does not cause any emission of pollutants. Neither sooty particles, nitrogen oxides or carbon dioxide harming our environment or climate are emitted. The "exhaust fume" of the reaction of hydrogen with the oxygen of the air is only pure water in the form of steam.

No change of battery needed

If the hydrogen in the truck is used up, all that is needed is a short stop at the hydrogen fuel station to put the truck back into full operation. The laborious change of the battery and keeping an expensive second battery charged in standby is not needed.

Minimum interruption of the operation

Refilling the hydrogen tank of the truck only takes 5 minutes. This makes the fuel cell superior to the conventional battery requiring a charging cycle with a duration of several hours.

Multi-shift operation without problems

To allow multi-shift operation the fuel cell only needs to be refuelled in due time. This means that it is not needed to keep an expensive second or third battery for each truck.

Full performance

The fuel cell PowerPack by STILL provides full voltage until the hydrogen is used up. The nominal voltage of a battery on the other hand is reduced continuously.

Based on the nearly unique experiences with fuel cell technology and the aspect of protecting of the environment, the company will consistently and intensively follow this line of development.