Meet Intelligent Energy

We are starting customer deliveries of our new 1.2kW IE-LIFTTM MHE fuel cell module. This 17L module is integrated by our partners into AGVs and trucks. The “H2 E-Pack" has been developed by our partners, FES GmbH, and is a plug-and-play replacement for battery packs in European Class 3 MHE. We will expand our MHE offering in conjunction with our partners, targeting the larger Class 1 and 2 forklift trucks to enable our customers to convert even more of their fleets. 

In other areas of the business, we have recently launched fuel cells for drones, aimed at utility inspection and consumer deliveries. Hydrogen drones fly 3 times longer than batteries and compared to petrol last longer with much less noise.

In higher powers we have launched a 100kW engine aimed at cars, buses, trucks and trains. And, in even higher powers we are designing aero systems at MW scale.

We will be continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible with fuel cell technology. Our fuel cell modules are already industry leading in terms of power output for their size and weight, and we plan to keep introducing the technology into new markets such as automotive and aerospace.  

Aside from the zero-emission operation of fuel cells, the recyclability at end-of-life is a key selling point. Ahead of the building of our new Gigafactory, Intelligent Energy will be investing in our own electrolysers capable of producing around 850kg of hydrogen per day. Removing our reliance on bought-in hydrogen will not only reduce the carbon emissions currently associated with hydrogen produced from natural gas, but it will also mean fewer lorry movements to deliver gas to us, making us a cleaner, greener business overall. 

We are also upgrading the test rigs in our labs, which will mean that we will end up putting up to 1 MW back into the grid.

With physical warehouse capacity being an increasingly rare and expensive commodity, reclaiming the space currently occupied by battery charging infrastructure will be an attractive proposition for intralogistics operators. Combine that with the mounting pressure from eCommerce and rising energy costs, and hydrogen fuel cells are fast becoming the answer to a lot of problems. They do not need huge battery rooms, can be refuelled in a couple of minutes, and hydrogen can be produced using on-site renewable power to provide greater energy security and independence.

Moving forward as we see more fuel cell HGVs out on the roads, having hydrogen produced on site with the refuelling infrastructure alongside, logistics operators could be looking at unlimited ‘free’ fuel for their trunking and return-to-base vehicles as well as their MHE. We expect 25-50% of HGVs to be H2 within 10 years.