Doosan Bobcat Launches Hydrogen Fuel Cell Forklifts

Imagine a future warehouse where forklifts move silently without exhaust fumes, leaving only water vapor in their wake. This futuristic vision is becoming reality as Doosan Bobcat officially launched South Korea's first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell forklift in Incheon, marking a significant step in hydrogen energy's industrial vehicle applications.

The January 31 launch ceremony saw full attendance from Doosan Group executives, underscoring the product's strategic importance. The new Bobcat hydrogen fuel cell forklift is a 3-ton model equipped with a 20-kilowatt fuel cell system, with initial units being delivered to Korea Zinc Company's Ulsan refinery. While other companies have previously demonstrated hydrogen forklift prototypes, Doosan Bobcat becomes the first to achieve commercial production and delivery.

Hyung-Won Park, President of Doosan Bobcat Asia Pacific, Latin America and Australia, stated during the ceremony that as Korea's first forklift manufacturer, the company is proud to pave the way for hydrogen forklift commercialization and promote hydrogen energy adoption. This reflects both corporate responsibility and long-term commitment to hydrogen technology.

What advantages do hydrogen fuel cell forklifts offer? Essentially, they use hydrogen fuel that generates electricity through chemical reactions in fuel cells to power operations. Compared to traditional combustion forklifts, the key benefit is zero emissions, delivering true environmental sustainability. Additional advantages include:

• Rapid refueling: Hydrogen tanks can be replenished in minutes, significantly reducing downtime and improving productivity.
• Extended range: Hydrogen models outperform electric forklifts in continuous operation time between refueling.
• Cold-weather performance: Fuel cells maintain reliable operation in low-temperature environments where battery performance typically declines.

However, hydrogen forklift adoption faces obstacles. Current hydrogen infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with limited refueling stations constraining widespread deployment. Additionally, higher production costs compared to conventional models require further reduction to enhance market competitiveness.

Doosan Bobcat is actively addressing these challenges through participation in South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy pilot programs to validate commercial viability. The company is also collaborating with multiple corporations and local governments to expand hydrogen forklift applications. Plans call for delivering 30 units in 2024, followed by additional hydrogen-powered models including skid-steer loaders, gradually building a comprehensive hydrogen product portfolio.

This commercial launch represents not only a corporate milestone for Doosan Bobcat but also signals new possibilities for the logistics sector. As technology advances and infrastructure matures, hydrogen forklifts may emerge as mainstream material handling solutions, contributing to low-carbon industrial operations.