Massachusetts citizens pay a price for being at the end of the energy pipeline: increasing costs, supply volatility, and dependence on energy from outside the state and region. Massachusetts has the opportunity to significantly impact the local economy by leveraging the Commonwealth’s entrepreneurial know-how, venture capital, and quality workforce to bolster its leadership in the creation of advanced clean transportation solutions.

Hydrogen is an increasingly important part of the region’s current clean energy economy. Why? Simply put, hydrogen offers the benefits of electricity with the convenience of fuel. The result: Zero emissions. Zero compromise. 

In the past year, awareness around the use of hydrogen has continued to grow. In Massachusetts alone, where Nuvera is based, there are now several hydrogen stations which separately serve fuel cell vehicle demonstrations, industrial forklift operations, and most recently the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which operates a fuel cell transit bus in revenue generating service.

Are you looking to learn more about advanced technology solutions in materials handling? On Thursday, October 19, after catching the nation-wide buzz around National Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Day, make sure to visit the Stars of Technology Event presented by NITCO, an unparalleled materials handling solutions provider for the New England region. Gain first-hand insight into what solutions make the most sense for your business and operations.

As part of a large global company with corporate responsibility objectives focused on long-term growth, Nuvera is among the companies developing environmentally and financially sustainable motive power solutions. Our commitment to corporate responsibility plays a key role in the Hyster-Yale Group ‘2026 Vision’ initiative to minimize environmental impacts and conserve natural resources.

PRESS RELEASE: Billerica, Massachusetts, July 28, 2017 — Hyster Company has announced that the electrification of its line of Hyster^® Big Trucks is in development (see Hyster press release). This activity paves the way for zero-emission, fuel-cell versions of heavy duty trucks.  

One of the largest and most innovative cooperative education programs in the world has recognized its co-op employer of the year. Nuvera Fuel Cells (a subsidiary of the Hyster-Yale Group) has been a major employer partner for Chemical Engineering students at Northeastern University since 2006, and has hired a total of 49 co-op students at its Massachusetts headquarters. As a leader in the development of fuel processing and fuel cell technology, Nuvera offers students the opportunity to work as engineering co-ops in the Electrochemical Technology Group and Process Engineering Group. Here, they support Fuel Cell Platform and Hydrogen Generation Teams to design, test, and manufacture state-of-the art products.

At the 29^th Annual Vehicle and Equipment Show presented by the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), representatives and operation managers of government agencies seeking more productive and sustainable electric forklift power had the opportunity to visit the Nuvera display presented by Eastern Lift Truck. Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, a 2016 proposal provider in support of Mayor DeBlasio’s NYC Clean Fleets Initiative, showed how electric forklifts can be fueled in as little as 2 minutes. The zero-emissions Nuvera® fuel cell system is a drop-in power option for replacing lead acid batteries in electric sit-down, reach, and pallet rider trucks (watch video at the end of this post).

Canadian Tire Corporation has just issued the following statement:

“In an effort to increase productivity and operational efficiency through clean, non-combustive, non-emissive and sustainable technology, Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) chose hydrogen fuel cell technology to replace lead acid batteries to power forklifts in two Ontario distribution centers."

A zero-emissions fuel cell bus joins the Boston public transit fleet as part of an FTA-sponsored project. The bus received a full fueling at Nuvera corporate headquarters in Billerica before final delivery to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA). There, a Nuvera^® hydrogen station completes the program to reduce the use of petroleum and grow a greener economy using hydrogen. Read more and watch the video...

Hydrogen means business in California! To support this vision, the Board of Directors for the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC) helps shape the strategic direction of the 80+ member industry organization that supports the commercialization of hydrogen in transportation, stationary power, and materials handling and markets. On Wednesday, open positions on the board were newly filled. 

At the elections —

If your company is considering a new construction project or a custom retrofit of an existing facility, there may be financial incentives for energy related investments under your state’s energy efficiency programs. These energy-related investments now include Nuvera^® fuel cell systems for electric lift trucks.

On November 10, 2016, 100 government officials, terminal operators, environmental advocates, and technology solutions providers met at the Port of Los Angeles to discuss how the use of hydrogen in the nation’s seaports can dramatically reduce toxic air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The Port of LA is the busiest in the nation and the 9^th largest in the world. It was an ideal setting for a workshop convened by the California Hydrogen Business Council to explore how hydrogen and fuel cells solutions at ports can address some of the most pressing environmental issues of today.

Consumers are reluctant to compromise on convenience, power, range or safety to support zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandates set out by ZEV States. Automakers understand this, as noted by an advanced technology manager of a leading manufacturer, “If society’s goals are to reduce carbon from the transportation side, they only have a few options and from our point of view, [hydrogen] is the most compelling one.”[i] 

Furthering this idea, zeroemissions.org provides fuel cell vehicle (FCV) facts to support the idea of zero emissions with zero compromise.

Event: Emerging Technologies Fair, November 3, at LiftOne North Carolina Headquarters in Charlotte. Today, materials handling equipment customers are at LiftOne and the Hyster-Yale Experience Center, learning about a fast-fueled power option for electric lift trucks – counterbalance forklifts, narrow aisle forklifts, and motorized hand-trucks.