VANCE, Alabama -- Mercedes-Benz has ordered 123 additional
hydrogen-based GenDrive fuel cell units to power forklift trucks at its
Tuscaloosa County auto assembly plant, manufacturer Plug Power Inc. said today.
The move follows a similar one last year, when Mercedes purchased 72 GenDrive fuel cells to power the lift truck fleet. Plug Power's technology replaces lead-acid batteries and is a more cost-efficient way to provide clean energy for warehouse operations, the company said.
The new forklift trucks will be used at a $70 million, 900,000-square-foot logistics hub
The facility will be used for the receiving, handling and sequencing of parts for the luxury SUVs and crossovers produced at the Vance auto plant, as well as the C-Class sedan, which will go into production there next year.
Refueling stations will be available at several locations within the facility, with hydrogen provided by Air Products. The new forklift fleet is expected to handle about 2.9 million auto parts per day.