Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

OKIsItJustMe

(19,938 posts)
28. Batteries also tend to wear out
Fri Mar 29, 2013, 05:48 PM
Mar 2013

The question is, is their useful life long enough for the application?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_cell

[font face=Serif]…

[font size=4]Forklifts[/font]

[font size=3]Fuel cell powered forklifts are one of the largest sectors of fuel cell applications in the industry. Most fuel cells used for material handling purposes are powered by PEM fuel cells, although some direct methanol fuel forklifts are coming onto the market. Fuel cell fleets are currently being operated by a large number of companies, including Sysco Foods, FedEx Freight, GENCO (at Wegmans, Coca-Cola, Kimberly Clark, and Whole Foods), and H-E-B Grocers.

Fuel cell powered forklifts provide significant benefits over both petroleum and battery powered forklifts as they produce no local emissions, can work for a full 8 hour shift on a single tank of hydrogen, can be refueled in 3 minutes and have a lifetime of 8–10 years. Fuel cell powered forklifts are often used in refrigerated warehouses as their performance is not degraded by lower temperatures. Many companies do not use petroleum powered forklifts, as these vehicles work indoors where emissions must be controlled and instead are turning towards electric forklifts. Fuel cell forklifts offer green house gas, product lifetime, maintenance cost, refueling and labor cost benefits over battery operated fork lifts.[/font]

…[/font]
More from the article. GiveMeFreedom Mar 2013 #1
Don’t worry about it “being bought out and forgotten.” OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #3
No, work on electrolyzers continues Yo_Mama Mar 2013 #7
See post 6 kristopher Mar 2013 #8
That is a very significant development Yo_Mama Mar 2013 #2
You’re welcome! OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #5
They expect large units for sale in 2014, and prototype home units in 2015 bananas Mar 2013 #4
A question for OKSensei kristopher Mar 2013 #6
(Who is OKSensei?) OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #9
When it comes to fuel cells you are, of course. kristopher Mar 2013 #10
It's a different technology! Yo_Mama Mar 2013 #12
The primary objection to using hydrogen for energy storage is cost OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #13
This level of analysis doesn't account for costs associated with developing infrastructure kristopher Mar 2013 #17
You mean you don’t want it to be meaningful OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #20
This version of the chart spells it out better OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #21
Here are results from a 2012 study for the Navy OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #14
So what is the answer to the question? kristopher Mar 2013 #16
Really!? OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #19
Direct cost of platinum is only ONE problem associated with a hydrogen SYSTEM kristopher Mar 2013 #22
I’m not saying any of those things OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #23
Actually you are very carefully saying nothing - you STILL haven't answered the question. kristopher Mar 2013 #24
Fatally flawed math OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #25
Yes, it is an obviously contrived example kristopher Mar 2013 #26
I love that “exceeds 90%” (it sounds so much better than 91%) OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #27
That's a different technology Yo_Mama Mar 2013 #11
The amount of energy lost in the storage process is a key element of cost. kristopher Mar 2013 #15
fuel cells tend to wear out quadrature Mar 2013 #18
Batteries also tend to wear out OKIsItJustMe Mar 2013 #28
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Discovery opens door to e...»Reply #28