Hyundai Mobis rolls out self-developed hydrogen-powered forklift

Hyundai Mobis has demonstrated a forklift powered by the company's self-developed hydrogen fuel cells, heightening prospects of the hydrogen mobility sector expanding its reach to construction machinery.

Hyundai Mobis on Wednesday said it held a demonstration event for its innovative forklift with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulsan Technopark, machine parts maker Hyundai Genuine and logistics company Hyundai Glovis.

Hyundai Mobis is working on a mid-size five-ton forklift powered by a hydrogen cell that can run for five hours on a single charge that takes just five minutes.

After testing its hydrogen-powered forklift at the Ulsan KD (Knockdown) Center, Hyundai Glovis send driving data and points for improvement to Hyundai Mobis' Technical Center of Korea in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Hyundai Mobis and Hyundai Genuine will join forces to boost the forklift's marketability and diversify the use of fuel cell power packs.

A Hyundai Mobis source said, "We plan to operate hydrogen-powered forklifts on a large scale by participating in a government pilot project next year."

The fuel cell used in the forklift can also serve as a small power pack for drones and small industrial machinery and a mid- to large one for excavators and large construction machinery.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com