Air Products' Mobile Fueler Technology Up to the Challenge in South Carolina
October 02 2007 - 11:06AM
PR Newswire (US)
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products
(NYSE:APD) mobile hydrogen fueler technology is proving to be up to
the challenge in Columbia, S.C. where it is participating in a
six-location Fuel Cell Lift Truck Demonstration Project in the
Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge. Air Products mobile fueling
technology is providing hydrogen for two hydrogen powered lift
trucks that have been equipped with fuel cell power packs and are
performing daily use evaluations, concluding in December, at
various warehouse facilities in the greater Columbia area. "This
demonstration project highlights the capability of hydrogen as an
energy carrier and another diverse application for hydrogen fuel
cells," said Tom Joseph, business development manager for Hydrogen
Energy Systems at Air Products. "We believe hydrogen has both
economic and environmental benefits for the materials handling
industry. South Carolina has set some aggressive goals for using
hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and we are pleased to be part
of that effort." Air Products is a leader in the development of
hydrogen fueling technology and hydrogen infrastructure. It is
providing the hydrogen to the fuel cell power packs, manufactured
by Hydrogenics of Toronto, Canada. These packs are installed by
LiftOne in electric lift trucks manufactured in Summersville, SC
and are being used for deployment at six different commercial
warehouse facilities. This multiple site demonstration project is
the most ambitious initiative to date funded under the sponsorship
of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge. The Challenge is a
collaborative effort between the City of Columbia, the University
of South Carolina, EngenuitySC and SCRA, whose collective mission
is to accelerate the deployment and adoption of a wide array of
hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within the Midlands region of
South Carolina. Launched in the summer of 2006, the Challenge has
awarded 10 projects to date. The materials handling industry has
been identified as a near-term market opportunity with
productivity, energy and environmental gains to be achieved through
introducing fuel cell technologies. Hydrogen fuel cell-powered lift
trucks will typically need refueling only once or twice daily,
depending on use, and which usually can be completed in less than
five minutes. In contrast, traditional battery-powered lift trucks
must be placed temporarily out of operation for battery replacement
and required battery recharging usually every four to six hours.
Hydrogen fuel cell-powered lift trucks provide consistent power
strength during use and do not have decreased performance as
required battery change out and recharge time nears. Further,
hydrogen-powered fuel cell lift trucks are more environmentally
friendly, without associated lead-acid battery storage and disposal
issues. This South Carolina demonstration program is a continuation
of Air Products' work in the hydrogen-powered materials handling
market. In August, Air Products announced it had signed an
agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency's Research and
Development Program as lead contractor for a two-year demonstration
program. Air Products is to develop indoor hydrogen fueling station
technology infrastructure to fuel 40 hydrogen fuel cell-powered
lift trucks for daily warehouse operations at the Defense
Distribution Depot Susquehanna Pennsylvania. Additionally, Air
Products has been participating in similar work at other material
handling customer sites in the U.S. since January 2006. The
projects include providing indoor and outdoor hydrogen fueling
station infrastructure for fueling hydrogen-powered lift trucks and
automated guided vehicles powered by hydrogen. Air Products has
placed into operation an industry-leading 21 mobile hydrogen
fuelers in the United States and worldwide today. The versatile Air
Products mobile hydrogen fueler comes complete with fuel storage
and dispensing, and can be transported from location to location to
provide hydrogen fueling for promotional demonstrations or remote
endurance testing. The fueler can be remotely monitored and is
designed to ensure daily, around- the-clock hydrogen vehicle
fueling availability. Air Products has more than 50 years of
hydrogen experience and is on the forefront of hydrogen energy
technology development. Air Products has placed over 70 fueling
stations on stream in 12 countries, including for mass transit
fueling in Beijing, China for buses to be used to shuttle athletes
and visitors for the 2008 Olympic Games. Over 40,000 vehicle
fuelings have already taken place using Air Products' technology.
As the world's largest supplier of merchant hydrogen, Air Products
is a leader in the development of the hydrogen infrastructure
necessary to fuel hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen internal
combustion engine automobiles, HCNG (hydrogen/compressed natural
gas) vehicles, and has an extensive patent portfolio with over 50
patents in hydrogen dispensing technology. More information on Air
Products' hydrogen fueling station technologies and activities can
be found at http://www.airproducts.com/h2energy . Air Products
(NYSE:APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and
healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric
gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and
equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built
leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor
materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas
liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is
recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and
commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual
revenues of $9 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and over
20,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit
http://www.airproducts.com/ . ***NOTE: This release may contain
forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially,
due to changes in current expectations. DATASOURCE: Air Products
CONTACT: Media Inquiries: Art George of Air Products,
+1-610-481-1340, ; or Jane Dalziel of Hydrogenics, +1-905-361-3639,
; or Investor Inquiries: Nelson Squires of Air Products,
+1-610-481-7461, Web site: http://www.airproducts.com/
http://www.airproducts.com/h2energy
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