The Future of Clean Transport
Company promotes hydrogen fuel applications
For the first time in the Kingdom, a shipment is loaded onto a hydrogen truck with a hydrogen-powered forklift.
In accordance with Aramco’s strategic direction to promote hydrogen fuel applications, the Transportation & Equipment Services (T&ESD) Department has introduced the first hydrogen-powered forklift. The new forklift loaded a shipment into a hydrogen truck, as a precursor to the possibilities for clean transportation in the future.
The achievement comes after months of close collaboration between T&ESD and Technology Oversight & Coordination (TOC), with the assistance of the Research and Development Center Department (R&DC), as well as major local equipment and vehicle suppliers Abdullatif Jamil/Toyota and AlMajdouie Logistics Company/Hyundai Both the forklift and the truck are now under evaluation to examine its potential applications and ensure that the current design is well-suited for weather conditions.
Hydrogen Power
The latest hydrogen equipment is powered by a fuel cell system which produces electric energy from electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen fuel cell actually combines hydrogen with oxygen to generate electricity and emit only water vaper. There are no greenhouse or carbon emissions — this makes the technology more environmentally friendly.
Forklift ideal for storehouses
The small size hydrogen-powered forklift can lift up to 2000 kilograms. Its compact size makes it ideal for enclosed storehouses where diesel-powered forklifts cannot operate because of emission restrictions. The forklift collects water vapor emitted into a special container that can be drained like ordinary water. In addition, the forklift is equipped with advanced control systems and internal sensors to effectively manage the operation of the equipment.
Demonstrating hydrogen-powered equipment and trucks promotes this initiative, which encourages innovative, oil-based solutions in the transportation & equipment sector. The collaboration between TOC and T&ESD is highly commendable.
— Mohammad Al-Hatlani
Promising future
After the successful introduction of the first KSA hydrogen-fueled buses and vehicles, T&ESD has collaborated with AlMajdouie Logistics Company to introduce the first cargo shipment truck in the Middle East that is completely powered by hydrogen fuel. These clean energy vehicles may have promising future within the transportation industry. This truck design model, known as “XCIENT”, can load just under 10,000 kg of cargo shipments and deliver them at a maximum road speed of 85 km/h. Engineers from T&ESD and TOC decided to put the hydrogen-powered equipment to the test. To control and monitor the test, the team coordinated an actual industrial shipment in Dhahran. On August 26th 2021, first insuring that all loads and dimensions were within the capabilities of both the hydrogen-powered forklift and truck, the team loaded an electrical generator from Old Abqaiq Road for repair and transported it to the Mechanical Services Shops Department.
“Demonstrating hydrogen-powered equipment and trucks promotes this initiative, which encourages innovative, oil-based solutions in the transportation & equipment sector. The collaboration between TOC and T&ESD is highly commendable”, Mohammad Al-Hatlani Industrial Services executive director said.