HTEC announces plans to deploy 100 fuel cell electric trucks in B.C.
by CM Staff
The H2 Gateway program aims to drive the adoption of hydrogen as a transportation fuel in targeted regional hubs across BC.
(From L): Colin Armstrong, President and CEO, HTEC; Jeff Grant, VP Transportation Solutions, HTEC; Shannon Halliday, VP Corporate Affairs, HTEC; Sabina Russell, VP Clean Fuels, HTEC; Gerhard Schmidt, VP Engineering, HTEC; Patric Ouellette, VP Stations and Distribution, HTEC. (Credit: HTEC)
VANCOUVER — On Jun. 19, HTEC announced its plans to deploy 100 hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Electric Trucks (FCETs) on British Columbia (BC) roads through HTEC’s H2 Gateway program.
“Hydrogen technology is our best option when it comes to building a clean economy in B.C.’s commercial transportation sector, which accounts for 25% of total provincial emissions. HTEC’s project deploys 100 hydrogen trucks, helping to reduce the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels. Innovative, forward-thinking projects like this, are driving our clean economy and creating good jobs far into the future,” said Josie Osborne, BC’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, whose Ministry has supported this project with an investment of $10.3 million.
The H2 Gateway program aims to drive the adoption of hydrogen as a transportation fuel in targeted regional hubs across BC. As part of this initiative, HTEC plans to deploy an initial fleet of 100 heavy-duty, zero-emission FCETs, as well as build and operate an interprovincial network of up to 20 new hydrogen refuelling stations. To ensure a consistent hydrogen supply, the refuelling stations will be backed by three new clean hydrogen production facilities located in Burnaby, Nanaimo, and Prince George. Additionally, a facility in North Vancouver will liquefy 15 tonnes per day of vented by-product hydrogen. HTEC already owns and operates Canada’s first hydrogen refuelling network with five hydrogen stations in BC.
“We are grateful for the Province’s support to scale-up zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered commercial transportation” said Jeff Grant, Vice President of Transportation Solutions at HTEC. “Building on HTEC’s BC Hydrogen Pilot Trucks Project and the BC Hydrogen Ports Project, the H2 Gateway program will establish the first large-scale, heavy-duty hydrogen powered fleet of trucks to operate in BC.”
The trucks will be managed and leased through HTEC’s new Vehicle Leasing Corporation (VLC), a wholly owned subsidiary of HTEC. HTEC VLC’s mission is to manage vehicle deployment and enable coordinated hydrogen supply and demand in targeted regions, focusing on Class 7 and 8 hydrogen-fuelled trucks, including both hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine models.
The on-road heavy-duty transportation sector is a significant contributor to province-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 9% of BC’s total emissions in 2021.
