Forklift project offers glimpse into hydrogen potential

Friday, 19 October 2007

Page 2 of 2 Another obstacle is providing refueling capabilities for the lifts. The demonstration project includes a mobile refueling station that goes from site to site along with the forklifts, but finding a refueling source for a company using the forklifts permanently could present a challenge. There are a couple of different refueling options, depending on the location and size of the company. Right now the most common method it to have the hydrogen trucked in and delivered. Another option is to generate hydrogen onsite, which Keller believes is the best solution once it can become affordable. Companies like Hydrogenics manufacture equipment that enables companies to generate hydrogen onsite, but the equipment is expensive. “We will work with companies to determine what the most cost effective method is,” said Jane Dalziel, director of communications and government liaison for Hydrogenics Corp. “Companies that use a high number of forklifts might benefit from investing in the onsite equipment, whereas the companies who use fewer lifts might not be able to justify the extra cost.”  Last year, General Motors Corp. Canada tested the forklifts and will soon employ 19 of the lifts for a longer trial, with the possibility of permanent use. Bill Mahoney, CEO of SCRA, said hydrogen-power applications like the forklift fuel cells are a way to grow the alternate fuel source industry within the state. Mahoney points out that while generally the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning hydrogen power is an automobile, the reality of automobiles is still a long way off. “Until there are widespread hydrogen refueling stations, there won’t be a market for cars. Transportation is the last segment of the market to be filled up. For now, micro and portable applications are the most economically feasible applications,” Mahoney said. The forklifts are an example of a portable application. Another portable application is the hydrogen-powered Segways being used by the Columbia Police Department. Mahoney said the CPD has reported that these Segways are much faster than regular battery-powered Segways and like the forklifts, didn’t lose power toward the end of a run. As for a micro application, ETV in Columbia has been using small fuel cells in its cameras, reporting that the camera fuel cells outperformed regular batteries 2-to-1, Mahoney said. “The progression is from micro and portable through stationary and eventually to transportation,” Mahoney said. “That’s where the performance and money is and that’s how a technology market develops. We’ll get to cars eventually.”  Stationary applications within South Carolina include plans for a hydrogen-powered scoreboard in the new University of South Carolina baseball stadium. Mahoney said stationary hydrogen fuel-cells are also being used by a number of apartment developers as back-up power sources. However, the environmental benefits of hydrogen power won’t be seen until fuel cells hit the road—literally. “The automobile is the holy grail,” Dalziel said. “That’s where we’re really going to be able to achieve the environmental benefits, when we can put fuel cells in something that’s out there polluting now. Applications like forklifts aren’t going to make any impact on energy security or greenhouse gases, but they are operationally superior. But before we can put fuel cells into a product that will appeal to the larger mass market, like cars and trucks for example, we’ll need to have a very substantial infrastructure.” Still, the fuel cells do have the benefits of increased productivity and, according to Mahoney, South Carolina’s participation in projects such as this one can attract companies to the state as well as growing existing companies and contributing to job creation. “Our expectation is that if this project progresses the way we think it will, operations of other companies would gravitate toward South Carolina,” Mahoney said. “We have indications that this is happening.” Mahoney cited companies that have located in Columbia due to the presence of the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells at the University of South Carolina. One such company, BoroScience International, is exploring boron compounds that become a solid source of hydrogen, which could have a variety of applications. “BoroScience is an example of a company coming to South Carolina to be close to research and applied research and commercialization,” Mahoney said. “My personal expectation is that we’re going to see more of this.” << Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>