Crown Equipment Corporation has introduced a new version of its Crown PC 4500 Series center control pallet truck designed to accommodate Plug Power GenDrive fuel cells.
The newly designed PC 4500 incorporates controls and gauges for the fuel cell into the dashboard of the truck for operator convenience. Normally, these controls and gauges, such as a fuel-level indicator and a start/stop button, are located on the fuel cell, which requires the operator to stop operation to access the control box and check the status of fuel cells. The other significant design modification to the fuel cell version of the PC 4500 is the placement of the fuel cell power unit behind the operator.
“With the standard PC 4500, the battery box is located directly below the steering control. Because many fuel cell packs have a taller profile, there isn’t enough room to fit them below the steering control without creating safety and performance issues,” said Rod Squires, product manager, Crown Equipment. “The idea to place the fuel cell behind the operator came about while we were working to meet the fuel cell needs of our customer, Walmart Canada.”
A fleet of the PC 4500 trucks with fuel cells were recently delivered to Walmart Canada’s new perishable distribution center outside of Calgary, Alberta. The facility is the first complete distribution center in Canada to be powered exclusively by hydrogen fuel cells. The trucks are expected to be operational in September.
Crown, which has received two grants for its fuel cell research that began more than five years ago, conducts fuel cell testing at a 25,000-square-foot research facility near Dayton OH dedicated solely to this purpose. Crown continues to work with fuel cell manufacturers and customers to research and test fuel cell applications. The company recently introduced a Fuel Cell Qualification program for its line of electric forklifts. The program approves Crown trucks for use with fuel cell power packs and provides certifications to customers.
The PC 4500 can operate in conditions as low as –20° F (–29° C). The truck maintains the features and benefits presented by the standard model, such as power steering, Access 1 2 3 technology, and the ergonomically designed X10 handle.
For more information, visit www.crown.com.
