Hyster, a worldwide supplier of solutions for container handling, has successfully designed and dispatched a ReachStacker powered by a hydrogen fuel cell to Spain’s Port of Valencia. This ReachStacker is an integral component of the H2Ports initiative, an ambitious project striving to integrate hydrogen-fueled vehicles and machinery into port operations.
The Hyster ReachStacker represents a pioneering emission-free solution that employs a cutting-edge Nuvera fuel cell to convert hydrogen into electric power. Hydrogen is securely stored in high-pressure tanks onboard and can be swiftly replenished in a mere 10 to 15 minutes. The onboard hydrogen fuel cell takes charge of the batteries, propelling the electric motors and hydraulic systems, thus enabling the ReachStacker to elevate loaded containers with a performance akin to its diesel-powered counterpart.
Bearing the Nuvera Fuel Cell Engine, the hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker boasts a multitude of advantages over traditional diesel-operated machinery. It remarkably curtails greenhouse gas emissions, diminishes noise pollution, and lowers operational expenses by obviating the need for a diesel engine, transmission, and other mechanically-driven components.
The operational efficiency of the Hyster ReachStacker will undergo rigorous testing and validation at the MSC terminal within Valencia, a preeminent container terminal within Europe. Spearheaded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU) and coordinated by the Fundación Valenciaport, the H2Ports endeavor engages diverse stakeholders from the port community, industry, and academia.
Jan-Willem van den Brand, Director of Global Market Development at Hyster, remarked, “Participating in the H2Ports initiative and contributing to the evolution of zero-emission solutions for port operations fills us with pride. The hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker stands as a transformative innovation that underscores our unwavering dedication to sustainability and client contentment. We eagerly anticipate witnessing its deployment at the Port of Valencia and eagerly await invaluable insights from end-users.”
