Hyundai Mobis has developed a hydrogen-powered forklift

Logo of Hyundai Mobis. [JOONGANG PHOTO]

Hyundai Mobis has developed a hydrogen-powered forklift, which will be tested in early 2021, the company said Thursday.

The achievement was made jointly with Hyundai Construction Equipment and Hyundai Motors after the three companies signed a memorandum of understanding in February. They aim to roll out the hydrogen-fueled forklift to the public by 2023.

The hydrogen forklift is a medium-and large-sized machine that can lift up to five tons. When it is fully charged, it can be operated for five hours continuously. According to the company, it is the first hydrogen forklift of its size to be developed.

In the process of developing the forklift, Hyundai Mobis independently developed the “fuel cell power pack.” It is a system that integrates a fuel-cell stack, a high-voltage battery, a hydrogen tank and a cooling device. The company developed it as its existing system for automobiles cannot be applied to forklifts.

The hydrogen-powered forklift will be introduced at a demonstration event this year.

“Besides cars, hydrogen fuel cells can be applied to many different sectors,” a spokesperson for Hyundai Mobis said. “We will try harder to discover new business ideas utilizing the hydrogen fuel cells.”

The three companies are also working on hydrogen-powered excavators. They said it will be developed by the end of the year and commercialized by 2023.

Hyundai Mobis has been expending its hydrogen fuel cells-related business since 2017.

BY CHEA SARAH [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]