Hyster announced a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) to offer two Hyster electric container handling vehicles, including the world’s first empty container handler powered by fuel cell technology in a real-world application.
Moreover, this will be the first Hyster terminal tractor to be distributed in Europe. Both units will be fueled by hydrogen produced locally at the HHLA Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub and powered by Nuvera fuel cells.
Hyster’s fuel cell-powered clean port equipment is a crucial component of the “Clean Port and Logistics” initiative and the H2LOAD project, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality for the HHLA group by 2040. The original contract is for two cars fuelled by hydrogen. The terminal tractor is scheduled to be delivered in late 2022, followed by the empty container handler in early 2023.
Hyster’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered equipment will be placed at Hamburg’s HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT). It is intended to install refueling infrastructure at CTT and connect the terminal to the future hydrogen grid in Hamburg.
Phase two of the H2LOAD project may involve the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell equipment and infrastructure at multiple HHLA sites in Central and Eastern Europe.
The hydrogen fuel cell-powered empty container handling is the result of intensive application analysis and extensive collaboration. The terminal tractor will be powered by a 45-kilowatt Nuvera fuel cell.
Numerous components, including the drive motor, battery modules, converters, hydrogen tanks, and controllers, will be shared by both vehicles. This design strategy provides operators with expertise with other Hyster large trucks with a level of familiarity and helps reduce the complexity, expense of design, manufacture, service, and maintenance.
