Hydra Energy Makes Real Hydrogen Trucking Progress in 2022 Setting Stage for Significant Expansion in 2023
Company accelerated trucking industry decarbonization with its zero-cost emissions-lowering solution and first Hydrogen-as-a-Service™ licensing discussions
VANCOUVER, BC (Dec 14, 2022) – Today, Hydrogen-as-a-Service™ (HaaS™) trucking innovator, Hydra Energy, announced that achieving significant hydrogen trucking-related milestones this year sets the stage for significant expansion in 2023 at a time when transportation is the fastest growing source of GHG emissions worldwide. At year end, the company continues to lead the way in reducing commercial heavy-duty trucking emissions right now, in providing a local, clean fuel source to fleet owners at a diesel-equivalent fixed price they can count on, and in offering the most profitable way for licensing partners to monetize their high volumes of hydrogen at scale. During 2022, the company specifically:
Created a Western Canadian-wide installer network through its partnership with a major commercial vehicle group, First Truck Centre, helping accelerate the adoption of Hydra’s conversion kits with commercial fleets in 13 cities.
Broke ground on the world’s largest hydrogen refuelling station for heavy-duty trucks forming the flagship location of the Hydrogen Corridor Hydra is building between the B.C. Coast and Edmonton. (View a video animation of the station here.)
Surpassed 300,000 kms (186,000 miles) of on-road driving of its proprietary hydrogen-diesel, co-combustion conversion technology by professional truck drivers continuing to verify that truck performance is not negatively impacted in even the most challenging weather and road conditions with the heaviest payloads.
Successfully deployed machine learning into its hydrogen conversion kits in a road trial with North American truck stop provider, Pilot Flying J, validating the platform agnostic nature of Hydra’s hydrogen internal combustion engine (HICE) retrofit technology while significantly reducing calibration time and further displacing diesel.
Entered contracts or signed MOUs with three new fleets including the world’s first hydrogen-converted armoured vehicle delivered to VEXSL in July and the world’s first hydrogen-diesel airside fleet at an international airport.
Began discussions and/or truck demonstrations with potential HaaS licensees which would make Hydra’s hydrogen-diesel conversion kits available beyond Western Canada.
Worked closely with the BC Trucking Association (BCTA) and Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) to get 1,000 kg weight exemption for clean trucks, including Hydra-converted trucks, and participated in several roadshows to raise fleet member awareness of Hydra’s zero-cost hydrogen-diesel solution commercially available right now. (View a video of Lafarge’s truck trial here.)
Continued to expand government support for low-emission vehicles as a solution on the path to Net Zero and was awarded several grants, including from the Shell and BC Government co-funded Centre of Innovation for Clean Energy (CICE).
“At a time when there is so much talk about zero-emission vehicles and achieving Net Zero, we have instead focused on leveraging existing clean hydrogen sources and delivering a viable emissions-lowering solution to commercial fleet owners to help make a dent in transportation emissions right now,” declared Hydra Energy CEO, Jessica Verhagen. “2022 was the most successful year in the company’s history as we advanced our hydrogen-diesel technology, customer base, refuelling infrastructure, licensee discussions, partnerships, and government regulatory and funding support. I know hydrogen transportation received a lot of attention this year, but our goal was to drive real results month after month laying a foundation that will drive even further progress in 2023 throughout North America and beyond. Hydrogen makes sense for heavy-duty trucking and Hydra makes sense for those organizations wanting to incorporate it today.”
With approximately 5 million registered Class 8 trucks registered in North America, Hydra continues to offer an economical, transition solution for these existing trucks that makes sense for both commercial fleets and hydrogen suppliers.
“I really dug deep into Hydra, and I really love their model only because it was a way we can take an existing combustion engine, and we can readily convert all our trucks in a very short period of time. We also got no range anxiety. If we run out of hydrogen, it goes 100% back to diesel,” said Cole Fouillard, CEO of Veteran Express Secure Logistics (VEXSL), Hydra’s second fleet customer.
Hydra is also one of a small group of companies helping advance government emissions-lowering agendas as noted by B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Honourable Bruce Ralston back in September. “Companies like Hydra are demonstrating how hydrogen is helping us meet our CleanBC goals. Hydra continues to crack the most difficult-to-decarbonize sector – heavy-duty trucking, which accounts for just over 1% of vehicles on Canadian roads but 30% of total GHG emissions. Not only does this home-grown innovation create jobs throughout B.C., but Hydra’s approach also proves it’s possible to reduce GHG emissions in a cost-effective way right now.”
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