Using the ITM Power HFuel platform to generate hydrogen, the six week trial involves M&S using several fuel cell vehicles as a direct substitute for part of the existing battery powered fleet.
The vehicles will be deployed at M&S’s 1.1million sq ft Prologis Park Distribution Centre.
The trial forms part of the M&S Plan A initiative, and aims to deliver zero emission vehicles with superior performance and a two minute refuel time.
The global materials handling market, valued at $20bn, is seen as a key early adoption market for hydrogen with fuel cells already being able to offer superior performance to battery powered systems, ITM Power said.
ITM Power CEO Graham Cooley said the involvement of companies such as M&S is essential to developing commercially viable hydrogen solutions for the materials handling industry.
