Kalmar collaborating with Toyota Tsusho America and Ricardo to accelerate development of fuel cell technology for Ottawa terminal tractors

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, is collaborating with Toyota Tsusho America Inc., headquartered in New York, and global strategic environmental engineering consultancy Ricardo in a project to develop fuel cell powered terminal tractors. As part of the project, a Kalmar customer in the USA will trial two Kalmar Ottawa Terminal Tractors powered by fuel cell technology at their container terminal on the west coast.

Fuel cell technologies are emerging as a viable alternative to batteries for zero-emission vehicle solutions. The Advanced Clean Truck requirement, adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2020, requires truck manufacturers to shift away from fossil fuels to zero-emission technology. Beginning in 2024, manufacturers must increase their zero-emission truck sales to between 30 and 50 percent by 2030 and between 40 and 75 percent by 2035.

Ricardo plc, headquartered in the UK, is responsible for the design, integration and assembly of the fuel cells into the Kalmar Ottawa platform. Compared to battery-powered solutions, fuel cell powered terminal tractors will offer Kalmar customers extended operational uptime and reduce the need for new investments in electrical grid infrastructure.