Procter & Gamble (P&G) plans to convert battery-operated forklifts at three of its US facilities to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Manufacturing operations in California, North Carolina and Louisiana will be the first three sites to use the new technology, which has been trialled in the UK by retailer Marks & Spencer.

More than 200 forklifts are set to be converted and P&G said at least two other sites are being studied for future conversion.

Designed by New York-based Plug Power, which counts Walmart, Sysco and Coca-Cola among its customers, the fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity without combustion while generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

P&G said the fuel cells enable the trucks to sustain power over an entire shift, require less routine maintenance and can be refuelled in two minutes, much faster than battery-powered alternatives.

Stefano Zenezini, vice president of global product supply sustainability, said the forklifts would improve productivity, while offering a “financially attractive” method of meeting the company’s environmental goals.

“Our internal analysis shows that we can not only achieve the sustainability benefits, but can also achieve an attractive rate of return on our investment at the same time,” he said.

“We’ll continue to look for opportunities like this where innovation has made going green a win for our shareholders as much as it has the environment.”