Nuvera, East Penn conclude forklift agreement M assachusetts-based Nuvera Fuel Cells' joint development agreement with motive power battery maker East Penn Manufacturing in Pennsylvania has come to the end of its planned term. Initiated in November 2004, the firms have worked together to develop hybrid fuel cell/battery systems for Class I and II forklift trucks as an alternative to standard lead-acid batteries.
As the joint development phase concludes, Nuvera and its 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 market place.
East Penn will continue on its current fuel cell hybrid development path. In parallel, Nuvera will manufacture and market its own brand of fuel cell hybrid products, along with its PowerTapβ’ onsite hydrogen generator and dispensing system for truck OEMs and end-user customers.
In developing the fuel cell hybrid power product, a disciplined product development process was followed, involving extensive customer input and close relationships with suppliers. The placement of units in real-life operation at the East Penn Distribution Center in Topton, Pennsylvania during 2006, was a key component of the process. Feedback given by forklift operators and maintenance staff was invaluable in shaping the product development. As of December 2008, the Topton distribution center logged over 13 000 h on 15 trucks, consuming over 5300 kg of hydrogen with more than 4700 refilling events provided by PowerTap.
Nuvera Fuel Cells recently deployed ReadyPower hybrid fuel-cell 'engine' units at the Susquehanna Defense Distribution Supply Depot (DDSP) in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania [FCB, February 2009]. Working with East Penn, the PEM fuel cell/battery hybrid units have been installed in 20 Yale forklift trucks as part of a twoyear demonstration project run by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).