Nuvera Fuel Cells has successfully concluded their joint development agreement with East Penn Manufacturing. The project was launched in November of 2004 to develop hybrid fuel cell/battery systems for Class I and II forklift trucks as an alternative to standard lead acid batteries.
The agreement sought to produce a single product consisting of hydrogen PEM fuel cells and advanced batteries, to provide the best high productivity solution for forklift operators needing higher performance at lower operating costs. These fuel cell hybrid power products transparently replace the original lead acid batteries found in reach trucks and sit-down counterbalance trucks manufactured by leading OEMs.
Nuvera has also developed an onsite hydrogen generator and dispensing system called PowerTap™, to support fuel cell hybrid fleet deployments in a cost effective manner.
In developing the fuel cell hybrid power product, a disciplined product development process was followed, involving extensive customer input and close relationships with suppliers. Instrumental was the placement of units in real life operation at the East Penn Distribution Center in Topton, Pennsylvania in 2006. The forklift operators and maintenance staff feedback were invaluable in shaping the product development. As of December 2008, the Topton distribution center has logged over 13,000 hours on 15 trucks, consuming over 5,300 kg of hydrogen with over 4,700 refilling events provided by PowerTap.
As the joint development phase concludes, Nuvera and their partner have reached a mutual agreement on fuel cell hybrid power products that meets the strategic objectives of both parties and accelerates the availability of commercial products to the marketplace.
Moving forward, East Penn will continue on their current fuel cell hybrid development path. In parallel, Nuvera will manufacture and market its own brand of fuel cell hybrid products, along with PowerTap, for truck OEMs and end customers.
Nuvera Fuel Cellsis a global leader in the development of fuel cell systems and fuel processors for both end-users and OEMs. With offices located in the U.S. and Europe, Nuvera provides clean, safe, and efficient products for industrial vehicles and equipment in addition to furthering the development of power systems for automotive and transportation applications.
