Hyster's Hydrogen-Powered ReachStacker Wins BIG Innovation Award in Europe
Key Ideas
- Hyster's hydrogen fuel cell-powered ReachStacker won the 2025 BIG Innovation Award in Europe for its transformative impact on container handling equipment.
- The ReachStacker, part of a pilot program at the Port of Valencia, is the first in Europe to use hydrogen fuel cell technologies for container handling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs.
- The hydrogen-powered ReachStacker offers zero emissions, reduced noise pollution, and similar performance to diesel counterparts, showcasing its potential in decarbonizing ports and enabling electrified container handling equipment.
Hyster has been recognized for its innovative hydrogen fuel cell-powered (HFC) ReachStacker in the 2025 BIG Innovation Awards, specifically for its transformative impact on container handling equipment. The Hyster® HFC ReachStacker is currently a part of a pilot program at the Port of Valencia, Spain, marking the first use of HFC technologies in Europe for container handling equipment. This initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and operating costs compared to conventional internal combustion engine-powered (ICE) container handlers. The ReachStacker functions by converting hydrogen into electricity through a hydrogen fuel cell engine, offering a zero-emission solution. Lucien Robroek, President of Technology Solutions at Hyster, highlighted the importance of ports in reducing emissions and the critical data being collected from the Port of Valencia pilot program. The HFC-powered ReachStacker can operate similarly to diesel counterparts, handling heavy loads continuously with minimal downtime. The vehicle stores hydrogen on board in high-pressure tanks, enabling quick refills and up to 10 hours of continuous runtime. The BIG Innovation Award recognizes organizations like Hyster dedicated to bringing new ideas to life, promoting creativity, measurable results, and overall impact in various industries. The recognition of the hydrogen-powered ReachStacker further emphasizes the shift towards electrified and environmentally friendly solutions in the field of port operations.