Lidl’s new logistics platform, which opened in Carquefou, Loire-Atlantique, is outfitted with a fleet of green hydrogen-powered handling equipment. It’s a European first!
Lidl is becoming green in Loire-Atlantique. The brand’s new logistics infrastructure, which debuted in Carquefou on Wednesday, March 30th, is the first to combine a fleet of hydrogen-powered handling vehicles.
The hydrogen originates from the Lhyfe manufacturing facility, which is made from sustainable resources and powered by wind. Located in Vendée, just a few hundred kilometers from the Carquefou facility, it will supply up to 75 kg of hydrogen per day at its peak.
In 3 minutes, you’ll be completely filled
The Carquefou platform now has 98 operating handling machines, with a delivery truck scheduled in 2022.
The hydrogen handling cars used by Lidl in Carquefou can be refueled in only 2 to 3 minutes, making them more practical than electric vehicles, which take several hours to charge. Jungheinrich, a specialty equipment manufacturer, supplied the vehicle, which was equipped with a Plug Power fuel cell. The three hydrogen dispensers, which are also from Plug Power, are linked to a compressor station outside the building, which is supplied by HRS.
Other deployments are being considered
For Lidl, the Carquefou platform project might pave the way for future deployments.
“Lidl wants to deploy green hydrogen cars on additional logistics platforms in the long future, or possibly utilize it to supply part of its fleet of delivery trucks,” the company said in a news statement.
