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Robert Rose, Executive Director, U.S. Fuel Cell Council:
Fuel Cell Forklifts ­ An Industry Overview

There are an estimated 3 million electric forklifts in service today, with an annual global market of around $3.7 billion. Fuel cells are emerging as a cost-effective alternative to electric battery-powered forklifts - lasting longer, fueling faster and weighing less while eliminating harmful emissions. Fuel cells have the potential to effectively lower total logistics cost since they need less maintenance, have fewer moving parts and require minimal fueling. They also ensure constant power delivery and performance, eliminating the reduction in voltage output that occurs as batteries discharge and the numerous interruptions in current input and output electric forklifts experience due to the frequent starting and stopping during use. There are several fuel cell manufacturers developing fuel cell forklifts that are in demonstration trials in various corporation warehouses right now. The U.S. government is interested in the technology as well, deploying projects in several defense depots all over the country. This presentation will highlight key programs and advancements of fuel cell forklifts around the world, as well as highlight some state and federal policies that will help with deployment and commercialization.

About Robert Rose:

Robert Rose is founding executive director of the US Fuel Cell Council, the business association of the fuel cell industry. Established in 1998, the council has more than 100 members. Rose also founded the Breakthrough Technologies Institute, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting advanced environmental and energy technologies from the perspective of the public interest. BTI¹s fuel cell education program, Fuel Cells 2000, was launched in 1993 and is internationally recognized. In a career spanning more than 30 years in Washington, DC, Rose has served in senior communications and policy positions in the U.S. government, provided consulting service and advice to a wide range of public and private sector clients, written or edited several books, and appeared before Committees of Congress. Rose is the author of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen: The Path Forward, which outlines a public-private partnership to develop and commercialize fuel cells and a supporting fuel infrastructure. The Path Forward helped shape the fuel cell provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Rose has many other writing and speaking credits and is a regular media source.

Rose is the 2004 recipient of the Fuel Cell Seminar Award, the most prestigious award of its kind in the U.S. Rose was a working journalist in New England before joining the staff of Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine. In the 1980¹s and 1990¹s he was a private consultant on environmental policy and communications.

Rose received his Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Nebraska in 1968.