Hydra Energy Completes Hydrogen Conversion of First VEXSL Armoured Vehicle for Return-to-Base Routes in the Edmonton Area
Marks the world’s first hydrogen-converted armoured truck to hit the roads and the first of many VEXSL purpose-built, heavy-duty vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions up to 40% per truck
Following on Hydra Energy’s April signing announcement of its second heavy-duty fleet customer, Veteran Express Secure Logistics (VEXSL), the company is pleased to announce the completed hydrogen conversion and delivery of VEXSL’s first armoured vehicle to immediately begin return-to-base transport routes in and around Edmonton. This first-of-its-kind converted truck officially kicks off the VEXSL Hydrogen Project which over the coming years will include conversion of almost all remaining armoured vehicles in the VEXSL fleet and use of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure on the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) land. This will allow VEXSL to carry out its rapidly expanding secure transportation operations across Western Canada at diesel-equivalent fuel prices.
“This is not only an exciting day for VEXSL in our quest to immediately lessen our environmental impact in the communities we serve but also for trucking overall. I mean, how many heavy-duty truck fleet owners, let alone owners of purpose-built armoured vehicles, can state they are reducing CO2 emissions by 40% per truck without reducing truck performance and without any financial burden on the fleet operator?” stated VEXSL CEO, Cole Fouillard. “I knew when I first came across Hydra’s solution that this was the transitional step I wanted to take with our existing fleet rather than waiting for expensive, new zero-emissions trucks sometime down the road.”
For Hydra’s hydrogen conversion process, this first VEXSL armoured vehicle had hydrogen tanks and gas handling components installed on the back of the cab and a dedicated, secondary controller installed in the dashboard to control hydrogen flow. This allows the truck to automatically run on hydrogen up to 40% of the time and seamlessly switch to diesel when there’s no more hydrogen in the tanks. Hydrogen refuelling is also as quick as diesel and the truck will not experience any loss in fuel efficiency, range, power, torque, or payload capacity on VEXSL’s routes transporting climate sensitive, high-risk, high-value goods for its clients. Initial fuelling will be provided through a collaboration involving the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) helping Hydra immediately extend its hydrogen-based trucking routes from Prince George to the Edmonton area.
“VEXSL is our second commercial fleet customer and a critical partner in building a western Canadian hydrogen corridor that helps immediately reduce transportation emissions in the region one fleet at a time,” added Hydra CEO, Jessica Verhagen. “Cole’s commitment to the environment and innovation has been a pleasure to be around and his special-purpose fleet continues to highlight the flexibility of our hydrogen-diesel conversion kits. We look forward to converting more VEXSL trucks in a fleet of almost two dozen vehicles.”
Delivery of the first hydrogen-converted VEXSL armoured vehicle comes on the heels of record-setting global CO2 emissions in which transportation overall contributes 20%. For more information on the only zero-cost solution to immediately reduce a fleet’s carbon footprint, fleet owners in B.C. and Alberta can reach out to info@hydra-energy.ca.
