Work Efficiency and Economic Efficiency of Actual Driving Test of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Forklift

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 27; no. 15; p. 4918
• Main Authors: Xiong, Zi’ang, Zhou, Haikun, Wu, Xuewen, Chan, Siew Hwa, Xie, Zhiyong, Dang, Dai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 02.08.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Alternative energy sources; Batteries; Commercialization; control strategy; Cost recovery; economic efficiency; Efficiency; Electricity; Electrodes; Energy consumption; Engines; Fault diagnosis; Fork lift trucks; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Humidity; Hydrogen; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; PEMFC forklift; PEMFC power system; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Renewable resources; voltage fluctuation; work efficiency
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154918

A 3.5 tonne forklift containing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and lithium-ion batteries was manufactured and tested in a real factory. The work efficiency and economic applicability of the PEMFC forklift were compared with that of a lithium-ion battery-powered forklift. The results showed that the back-pressure of air was closely related to the power density of the stack, whose stability could be improved by a reasonable control strategy and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with high consistency. The PEMFC powered forklift displayed 40.6% higher work efficiency than the lithium-ion battery-powered forklift. Its lower use-cost compared to internal engine-powered forklifts, is beneficial to the commercialization of this product.