Statement by Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the Deployment of FedEx Freight's Fuel Cell Lift Truck Fleet in Springfield, Missouri

October 29, 2010
In conjunction with the deployment of FedEx Freight's fuel cell lift truck fleet in Springfield, Missouri on Friday, October 29, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu issued the statement: "Today's announcement in Springfield is another example of how the Recovery Act is working to create jobs across the country. This investment is part of a broad effort to improve America's competitiveness, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and support the country's leadership in the clean energy economy of the future."

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded FedEx Freight $1.3 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to deploy fuel cell lift trucks at their Springfield, Missouri facility. FedEx Freight has installed 35 hydrogen fuel cell systems as battery replacements for a complete fleet of electric lift trucks at their existing service center. The facility includes permanent hydrogen fueling infrastructure, including liquid hydrogen handling and gaseous compression, storage, and dispensing equipment for two indoor dispenser stations. Success at this service center may lead to further fleet conversion at some of FedEx's additional 470 service centers. Partners on the project included Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Plug Power, Inc., located in Latham, New York.

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