Hyster Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered ReachStacker Forklift | 2020-2021

Designers: Hyster Company, Valencia, Spain
Manufacturer: Hyster Company, a Division of Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., Greenville, North Carolina, USA

The Hyster® hydrogen fuel cell-powered ReachStacker is part of the H2Ports project, which aims to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment in port operations. Intensive operations such as port terminals have typically relied on equipment powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). While electric options are established for forklifts that carry lighter pallet loads, heavier loads like laden shipping containers require a new level of performance. This hydrogen fuel cell-powered ReachStacker is an innovative zero-emission solution that uses a Nuvera® Fuel Cell Engine to convert hydrogen into electricity. The hydrogen is stored on board in high-pressure tanks and can be refilled in as little as 10-15 minutes.

The onboard hydrogen fuel cell charges lithium-ion batteries, which power the electric motors and hydraulic systems enabling the ReachStacker to lift laden containers with similar performance to a diesel-powered alternative. It offers reduced greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution and operating costs through the elimination of a diesel engine, transmission and other mechanically driven components. The ReachStacker is being tested and validated in live operation at the MSC terminal in Valencia Spain, one of the largest container terminals in Europe.

This application is exploring advantages of the hydrogen fuel cell-powered ReachStacker compared to conventional diesel-powered machines. In developing this solution and bringing advanced power sources to other high-capacity trucks, Hyster draws on a wealth of experience in electric forklift design with the company’s line of smaller, lighter-capacity equipment, for which Hyster offers extensive electric power options. The company’s innovations in hydrogen fuel cell-powered port equipment resulted in the first-ever real-world pilot of an HFC-powered top-pick container handler, located at Fenix Marine Services in the Port of Los Angeles. Hyster also has planned pilots for an HFC-powered empty container handler and terminal tractor in Hamburg, Germany and is working with Capacity Trucks to develop electric and hydrogen-powered terminal tractors.

The “H2PORTS – Implementing Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies in Ports” project is coordinated by Fundación Valenciaport, in close collaboration with the Port Authority of Valencia, and financed by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership program. “We are proud to be part of the H2Ports project and to contribute to the development of zero-emission solutions for port operations,” says Jan-Willem van den Brand, Director of Global Market Development, Hyster. “The hydrogen fuel cell-powered ReachStacker is a breakthrough innovation that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction.

The real-world application tests in the Port of Valencia are giving us a wealth of feedback and insight that will continue to help us drive zero-emission innovations for port operations.” The ReachStacker arrived at the MSC terminal Valencia for live testing in September 2023, making it the first ReachStacker application in Europe using HFC technologies for port handling equipment in real operating conditions. At a ‘demo day’ at MSC terminal on Nov. 28, visitors to the event witnessed live demonstrations, including the prototype hydrogen refueling processes being put in place at the port.