P&G testing hundreds of fuel-cell forklifts
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) is converting to hydrogen fuel cell forklift fleets at three facilities in the U.S.
CINCINNATI, OHIO—The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) is converting to hydrogen fuel cell forklift fleets at three facilities in the U.S.
Fuel cells are a leading edge technology that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity efficiently without combustion, with the goal of producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
The P&G manufacturing facilities—one each in California, North Carolina, and Louisiana—will begin converting the trucks’ batteries to fuel cells within weeks using equipment from Latham, N.Y.-based Plug Power, Inc.
“Fuel cell forklifts can be a financially attractive proposition that increase productivity while helping us reach our sustainability vision,” said P&G’s Stefano Zenezini, vice-president, Global Family Care Product Supply and Global Product Supply Sustainability. “Our internal analysis shows that we can not only achieve the sustainability benefits, but can also achieve an attractive rate of return on our investment at the same time.”
The fuel cells sustain power over an entire shift, require less routine maintenance and are much faster to refuel. It takes about two minutes to replenish a forklift with high-pressure hydrogen.
The first three sites will see 200 forklifts powered with hydrogen fuel cells. Other sites are being studied for future conversions.
