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Kion: Intralogistics company aims to develop its own hydrogen drives
The Kion Group aims to strengthen its portfolio in the area of hydrogen propulsion. The intralogistics company will therefore also develop and produce its own fuel cell systems for its industrial trucks in the future. According to the company, it plans to invest more than 11 million euros for this purpose. This spring, the group will launch its own 24-volt fuel cell system for warehouse technology equipment. The completion of the fuel cell portfolio is expected to follow in the coming years.
"As of today, the Kion Group will be the only industrial truck manufacturer on the European market with its own fuel cell production - an absolute unique selling point," says Rob Smith, CEO of Kion Group AG. "The demand from our customers is high, and we want to meet the increasing requirements for resource-saving and sustainable intralogistics with this technology combined with fast refueling."
The company plans to deliver the first vehicles with its own fuel cell systems to customers this year.
Fast and Clean
According to Kion, the advantages of fuel cell technology are manifold. The energy system generates no emissions during operation – making it ideal for use in enclosed warehouses. If the hydrogen also comes from renewable sources, such as biogas or electrolysis through solar or wind energy, the use is also climate-neutral. At hydrogen refueling stations, another strength of the energy system becomes apparent: a complete refueling takes just one to three minutes. This minimizes operational interruptions and increases vehicle availability – major advantages in multi-shift operations and large fleets. The absence of toxic acids or other harmful substances is another plus – not only for recycling but also in daily practice: for example, fuel cell propulsion is an attractive alternative to the lead-acid battery in hygiene-critical industries such as the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Hydrogen Generation for CO2 Reduction at Aschaffenburg Site
In parallel with the development and production of fuel cell systems, the company is also setting up its own hydrogen generation at the Aschaffenburg site. The work for a government-funded hydrogen refueling station including an electrolyzer is almost complete. Upon completion of the hydrogen infrastructure, 21 forklifts with fuel cell hybrid systems will be used there, replacing a large portion of the internal combustion engine forklifts currently in use.
Experience with the Energy Carrier
The fact that hydrogen and fuel cell technology hold great potential for intralogistics was recognized early on by the brands of the Kion Group, according to its own statements. Linde Material Handling GmbH (Linde MH), a subsidiary of Kion, has been intensively involved with this technology since 1997 and started serial production of its first devices as early as 2010.
The technology has also been a firmly established part of the portfolio at Kion subsidiary Still GmbH for a long time. Since 2003, Still has been regularly implementing hydrogen projects for customers with various types of vehicles. For instance, Still currently operates one of Europe's largest forklift fleets with hydrogen drive for a customer in France. To provide comprehensive advice and support to its customers regarding fuel cell technology, Still has entered into a partnership with Hydrogentle GmbH, which designs special systems, conducts feasibility analyses, and advises customers on hydrogen infrastructure—up to the handover of a completed hydrogen infrastructure for refueling industrial trucks upon request.
Fuel Cell Technology in Industrial Trucks
Energy generation with fuel cell systems is achieved through the chemical reaction of oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2), which feeds a compact lithium-ion battery. This hybrid combination powers the vehicle by supplying energy to the driving and lifting motors. The fuel cell generates the electrical energy needed to operate the forklift directly on board the vehicle. The only by-products of this so-called "cold combustion" are heat, water vapor, and pure water.
Translated automatically from German.
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