Daimler plant Düsseldorf

The Mercedes-Benz plant in Düsseldorf is stepping up its sustainability activities: Following the successful commissioning of the combined heat and power plant in 2012 and the use of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL in the vehicle fleet, the van plant is now testing hydrogen-powered forklifts. Two trucks equipped with fuel cells will initially be tested in tough logistics operations until the end of 2016. They were built by Linde Material Handling GmbH, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of forklift trucks and warehouse equipment. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of the “National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Program (NIP)”.

“The aim of the project is to further improve the_{carbon footprint of} our plant logistics and increase the availability of forklifts at the plant. This makes our plant logistics more efficient. Our project also points the way forward for the further development of this technology at other Daimler locations,” said Michael Humpert, Director Supply Mercedes-Benz Vans at the Düsseldorf plant, at an event to present the project at the plant.

The project will run until the end of 2016. The findings from the long-term test will be scientifically monitored and documented by the Hamm University of Applied Sciences. In order to be able to refuel the two forklifts manufactured by the project partner Linde in the future, a mobile hydrogen filling station was set up on the plant premises by the other partner Air Products, which is also supplied with hydrogen by the company.

Daimler is firmly committed to integrated environmental protection at its production sites. At the Düsseldorf site, the use of energy-saving, low-emission and low-waste technologies plays a special role, as the plant is directly adjacent to a residential area and a water conservation area. In addition, the future of mobility has long been dominated by electrification for the Group. The company already offers a wide range of electric vehicle models with battery or fuel cell worldwide. Fuel cell technology and hydrogen as an energy carrier have great potential for the mobility of the future. Daimler is therefore continuing to pursue its goal of bringing competitive electric vehicles with fuel cells to market.