Burnaby’s Loop Energy has been selected by Wiggins Lift Co., a leading American material handling vehicle manufacturer, to provide the fuel cell system for its new hydrogen-powered eBull forklift product.
Loop is a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell solutions and will support commercial deployment of the hydrogen-electric forklifts in late 2023.
Wiggins provides material handling vehicles to port, marina and warehouse operators across the US and is committed to offering its customers safe, reliable, zero-emissions industrial forklifts.
While partly motivated by ports in California targeting to achieve net zero by 2030, Wiggins decision to manufacture hydrogen-electric forklifts is also due to the operating benefits fuel cell engines offer, including fast refuelling times and the ability to meet a range of duty cycles.
The California-based company was one of the first manufacturers to provide battery-electric forklifts. With growing customer demand, it aims to be an early mover in the hydrogen-electric material handling vehicle segment.
The material handling market has been a key growth area for both battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles. The global forklift truck segment is estimated to require over 1.5 million units of forklift trucks per annum, with as many as 60% of these trucks being fully electrified.
Powered by a Loop Energy S300 (30 kW) fuel cell system, Wiggins’ eBull forklift will transport boats, bulk cargo and equipment at ports and marinas.
“Loop Energy is proud to be selected by a market leader such as Wiggins in the push to decarbonize material handling vehicles across ports in California,” said Loop Energy President & CEO, Ben Nyland.
“Wiggins’ vehicles operate in some of the world’s busiest and most productive ports. Their decision to choose our fuel cells further validates our technology and hydrogen’s role in transforming this large market segment.”
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