Munich airport: forklift truck with fuel cell system
For the hydrogen project in Munich airport, Proton Motor joined forces with Still GmbH and Linde Gas to replace the traction battery of a series R 60 electric forklift truck with a fuel cell of the same performance. This comprises a fuel cell system with a nominal output of 18 kW as well as with ultracaps serving as energy storage devices.
The logistics company Cargogate GmbH, subsidiary of Flughafen München GmbH, used this prototype as the first fuel cell-powered vehicle in Munich airport until the end of the project in 2006. The forklift truck was simply refuelled like any petrol vehicle at the nearby hydrogen filling station in just a few minutes. Consequently, there is no need for the 8-hour link-up to a charging station.
The PM Package used has a pressure tank (350 bar) with a capacity of two kilogrammes of hydrogen which serves as the hydrogen store. This corresponds to around 70 kWh of energy or 7 litres of diesel and allows the forklift truck to be used for the entire shift of eight hours. The mean energy requirement is covered by the fuel cells. The ultracaps integrated into the system act as electric energy storage devices which absorb the vehicle's braking energy and provide a peak performance of 38 kW as and when required. This ensures that the forklift truck is able to deliver the same dynamics during operation as its battery-powered counterparts. The shape and space requirements of the PM Package system are also identical to those of a conventional battery. It is therefore easy to retrofit and no additional adaptation is required.
Proton Motor supplied its ready-to-use PM Package system for the project. This was enhanced to create the current PM Package MH 30, which is designed for use in forklift trucks and similar electrically-powered vehicles with battery sizes of 80 V / 700 Ah.
Technical data
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Manufacturer: | Still GmbH |
Type: | R 60 |
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Manufacturer: | Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH |
Type: | PM Package |
Peak power hybrid system: | 38 kW |
Rated power fuel cell system: | 18 kW |
System voltage: | 80 V |
Hydrogen storage: | 2 kg |
Operating pressure: | 350 bar |
Refueling time: | < 2 min |

