Another promising alternative propulsion technology for an ecologically responsible use of our environment are fuel cells that allow to operate industrial trucks to run on hydrogen. A chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell generates electric energy that can be used to propel industrial trucks. The overwhelming benefit of this technology is that it emits no pollutants that strain our environment. The trucks neither emit soot particles or nitric oxides nor carbon dioxide. The only “exhaust fume” produced is pure water. However, this is not the only benefit of fuel cell technology: Compared to conventional electric trucks no batteries need to be changed or recharged during long charging cycles. A fuel tank can be filled in just five minutes. This makes the fuel cell highly superior to conventional batteries that require hours for recharging, and also, it is not necessary to provide a spare exchange battery to keep the truck available during recharging. This allows multi-shift operation without additional requirements.

In 2002 STILL had already developed a prototype of a fuel cell propelled forklift truck. Since 2003, trucks fitted with fuel cells have been tested in a number of pilot projects in practical applications. Amongst other, the trucks are operated at the airports in Munich and Hamburg, at the Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and at the chemicals company BASF. But it is not only in Germany that the trucks from STILL prove their qualities. Since September this year, for example, two RX 60-25 fuel cell trucks are deployed in a long-term pilot project at the Belgium retailers company COLRUYT. COLRUYT produces the hydrogen it needs for its own fuel station by electric energy generated from wind turbines and solar collectors. This makes the company a prime example for an organisation working to eco-friendly standards.

This month a total of four STILL fuel cell trucks are to be delivered to the DIY retail chain STARK in Denmark for another pilot project. “By using the fuel cell trucks in our company, we want to make it even more eco-friendly and make our contribution to reduce CO2-emissions in our country,” explains Henrik Lindstrøm, Director of Logistics at STARK.

However, it is not only alternative propulsion technologies making conventional gas, diesel or electric trucks as fuel efficient as possible, that are at the focus of development at STILL. This is why in 2008 the company had developed the Blue-Q technology, an intelligent autopilot for ecologic and economic responsibility that can be switched on by pressing a button in order to reduce energy consumption of industrial trucks by up to 20 percent.

All of these examples clearly show that the name STILL stands for driving innovations in the industry that set the standards for energy efficiency in clean and alternative propulsion technologies as well as in conventional drive systems.