Intelligent Energy work with German-partner to develop battery pack replacements for BMW’s material handling equipment in Leipzig.
BMW isn’t just testing hydrogen in passenger vehicles – it’s applying the technology today in its supply chain.
A bespoke solution was developed by Intelligent Energy and FES for the DS Automotion built Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) in operation at the BMW Leipzig factory.
Fahrzeug Entwicklung Sachsen GmbH (FES) is a German development service provider based in Zwickau and in 2019, started working with Intelligent Energy on the development of power products for the European electric powered forklift trucks, electric order pickers and tow trucks. The FEScell is a zero emission alternative to traction batteries. It is designed to replace 210mm battery boxes used in the warehouse, logistics and distribution markets.
This IE-POWER fuel cell powered system offers advantages against conventional batteries such as a fast refuelling time, zero emissions, retrofitting, durability and very low maintenance. These features contribute to higher vehicle availability and thus reduce the costs during operation.
This compact, plug-and-play fuel cell delivers 1kW of continuous power, built to comply with the IEC 62282-4-101 standard for industrial trucks.
Since 2022, Intelligent Energy have continued to supply fuel cell systems to BMW, converting their AGV fleet and decarbonising their production line. With over 27 fuel cell powered AGVs running the production line in the factory, fuel cells are enabling zero-emission operation. This collaboration at Leipzig is a leading example of hydrogen fuel cells advancing industrial applications.
Applications for IE-POWER
- Non road mobile machinery
- Telecommunications
- Disaster recovery
- Portable power generation
- Backup power
- Emergency power
- Off‑grid power
- Microgrids
- Auxiliary power units
- Material handling equipment
- Outdoor events
“There is great potential to save costs in the field of industrial trucks by using drive solutions with hydrogen. FES develops specific solutions based on customer requirements, which allow for maximum flexibility and compactness due to their modularity.
The IE-POWER from Intelligent Energy fits perfectly into this modular strategy and offers an optimal basis for integration with space-saving dimensions and high performance.”
– Ben Wendrock, Team Leader, Fahrzeug Entwicklung Sachsen GmbH (FES)