GREENVILLE, N.C. – Hyster Company has been named one of the four finalists in the industrial application category of the World Hydrogen 2023 Awards by the Sustainable Energy Council (SEC). This recognition is awarded to companies that have made significant contributions to the utilization of hydrogen and its industrial applications in the previous year. Hyster’s selection for this award stems from their design and production of the world’s first top-pick container handler powered by hydrogen fuel cells (HFC), currently undergoing pilot testing at the Fenix Marine Services terminal located in the Port of Los Angeles.
Based on the established Hyster® H1050-1150XD-CH top-pick container handler design, the truck is equipped with two Nuvera® 45 kW hydrogen fuel cells. These fuel cells work together with an onboard lithium-ion battery, providing the option to directly power the equipment or charge the onboard battery. This configuration delivers the advantage of zero emissions, similar to a battery-only electric option, but with sufficient energy capacity to sustain continuous operation for an entire shift, eliminating the need for interruptions to recharge or refuel.
Refueling the top pick with hydrogen can be completed in as little as 15 minutes, providing 8 to 10 hours of uninterrupted runtime without emitting any harmful substances—only water and heat. Additionally, the top pick incorporates a patented energy recovery system that captures and stores energy from load lowering and braking, enhancing uptime and efficiency while reducing energy requirements. The integration of HFC technology into the top pick aligns with Hyster’s broader strategy of leveraging hydrogen fuel cells to enable the electrification of vehicles and equipment in demanding applications where battery power alone may not be suitable.
“This HFC-powered top-pick pilot is an important step to meeting demand for electrification at ports. Whether equipment is powered by battery or hydrogen fuel cells, terminal operations need to have options that meet the daily realities of their application as they plan for emissions reduction targets,” says Lyndle McCurley, Vice President, Big Trucks, Hyster Company. “Our customers deserve options that allow them to build the right solution based on their needs, not limited selection or shoehorning a single power technology.”
When compared to conventional equipment powered by internal combustion engines, a single top pick utilizing hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) is projected to achieve substantial emissions reductions. Estimates suggest that over the course of a year, this HFC-powered top pick can save approximately 127 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and nearly half a ton of criteria pollution. This initiative is part of California Climate Investments, a comprehensive statewide program that channels significant cap-and-trade funding towards mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to strengthen the economy, enhance public health and environmental conditions, and provide substantial benefits to disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and households.
“The Port of Los Angeles is proud to partner with Hyster in their work on hydrogen fuel cell technology,” says Chris Cannon, Chief Sustainability Officer, Port of Los Angeles. “Not only does that work help the Port reach its zero-emissions goals, but it pushes the needle for what is possible for the future of clean cargo handling.”
ABOUT THE WORLD HYDROGEN AWARDS
The World Hydrogen Awards, selected by the Sustainable Energy Council and sponsored by BOSS Energy Consulting, honor companies and individuals in six categories who are transforming the hydrogen industry. Through innovation, partnerships and commercial advances, the 2023 finalists and winners are enabling the scalability needed to make hydrogen commercially viable and readily available to decarbonize even the most polluting sectors of our global economy.