Plug Power fuel cells now powering lift trucks at four P&G manufacturing facilities

Plug Power has announced that Procter & Gamble has selected its GenDrive fuel-cell products to power its electric lift-truck fleet in its manufacturing facility located in Mehoopany, PA. This additional facility now brings to four the number of sites converting to GenDrive fuel cells. Over 340 units will now be operational throughout Procter & Gamble's manufacturing infrastructure. Additional P&G sites using green fuel-cell technology include facilities in California, North Carolina, and Louisiana. Unlike the incumbent technology, hydrogen powers GenDrive fuel cells, ensuring constant voltage to the truck. The cells have fueling cycles that take just minutes. Lead-acid batteries need to be changed, charged, stored, and maintained—a process that is timely and involves costly infrastructure. Since hydrogen powers GenDrive fuel cells, it is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by more than 60 percent. "Plug Power's GenDrive [fuel cells are] delivering increased fleet productivity, decreased facility operating costs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions at customer sites throughout North America," said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power. "P&G is one of six Fortune 100 companies to convert multiple facilities to GenDrive fuel cells. With this fourth site conversion, P&G will lessen its environmental impact while realizing increased productivity, reduced operating costs, and better predictability of its fleet performance." Plug Power