Summer 2022
2022 seems to be flying by but that hasn’t stopped us from achieving more significant milestones when it comes to decarbonising heavy-duty trucking today! From new customers and critical partnership announcements to continued government and public support, we are excited to share our latest and greatest news covering the first half of this year!
Hydra Delivers to Second Fleet Customer & Expands Into Alberta
In April, we announced our second heavy-duty truck fleet customer, Alberta-based Veteran Express Secure Logistics (VEXSL), and shortly after, delivered their first converted truck for return-to-base routes carrying high-risk, high-value goods in the Edmonton area. This marks our first customer outside of British Columbia extending our Western Canadian Hydrogen Corridor, and a world milestone as the first ever hydrogen-converted armoured vehicle highlighting the flexibility of our proprietary hydrogen-diesel, co-combustion conversion technology. For a great perspective on this partnership, be sure to check out this recent Business in Vancouver article.
Hydra Secures Additional Partners in Alberta
Furthering our expansion into Alberta, we signed an MOU with Edmonton International Airport (EIA) to deliver North America’s first airside hydrogen-diesel fleet… news that was recently covered in a 4-page spread in Airside International Magazine. The EIA continues to be a true leader in sustainability efforts and by adopting our hydrogen conversion technology, they offer an airport decarbonization model for other transportation hubs to learn from around the world.
Building on this initial MOU, Hydra and EIA also signed an additional MOU with Alberta transport provider, Hercules Logistics, to demonstrate a Hercules Class 8 fleet within the Airport’s Sustainability Campus. Hercules’ converted trucks will run off the Airport’s low-carbon hydrogen refuelling infrastructure (once complete) creating a self-contained testbed for further sustainability innovation. This same hydrogen refuelling station will also be used within the VEXSL Hydrogen Project to help VEXSL carry out its rapidly expanding operations markingthe first transportation collaboration of its kind in Canada.
Hydra Showcases Conversion Technology Throughout Alberta
Spring proved quite busy for the Hydra team as our main R&D truck took a month-long tour of the Edmonton area supporting Hydra’s official launch into Alberta. With help from the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), their fleet members could try out our demo truck to see for themselves how it looks and runs. Successful trials were completed with several organisations including Trimac, Bison, and Canada Cartage. Canada’s largest provider of sustainable construction materials, Lafarge, put together this video detailing their experience. Further trial opportunities are available this fall/winter under this AMTA roadshow.
We also showcased our R&D truck at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention in Edmonton where a record-setting attendance got the chance to learn about Hydra for the first time. It was great to meet so many people as our booth was constantly busy over all three days. We were also pleased to receive Honorary Mention under the Canadian Hydrogen Convention Awards “Hydrogen Mobility” category, coming in 2nd to Canadian Pacific and their innovative hydrogen-powered locomotive.
Hydra Accelerates Hydrogen Truck Conversions
with First-of-its-Kind Partnership
We’re excited to have just announced our first partnership with a major commercial vehicle dealer group, First Truck Centre! It is the largest western Canadian-owned and operated group of Freightliner and Western Star dealerships with 13 locations across the region, including both Prince George, BC and Edmonton, Alberta where Hydra has announced its first two fleet customers. This partnership will help us rapidly scale the conversion of heavy-duty vehicles by gaining valuable feedback on our four-day installation training module, an extended team of regional Hydra conversion kit installers, and maintenance support for converted fleets throughout Western Canada.
As part of this partnership, both Hydra and First truck Centre are being supported by the Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), a non-profit founded by the Government of British Columbia and Shell to enable clean energy breakthroughs that will help the province get to Net Zero, and beyond.
CICE also launched the BC Hydrogen Changemakers Consortium of which Hydra is a member alongside industry heavyweights such as Ballard Power Systems, FortisBC, and TransLink. The group is focused on action and ensuring BC leads the way to a cleaner future.
Hydra Continues to Make Headway in Prince George, BC
During the first three months of real route driving completed by our first paying fleet customer, Prince-George-based Lodgewood Enterprises, Hydra was able to gather valuable data while the first converted truck drove its regular return-to-base routes up to 1,400 kms. Since our hydrogen conversion kit allows seamless transition back to diesel, Lodgewood’s truck will now continue on diesel-only operation until we complete the next phase of our flagship Prince George operations, the world’s largest hydrogen refuelling station to be operational at the end of 2023. In the meantime we will convert the remaining eleven trucks in Lodgewood’s fleet, as well as an additional 53 trucks in the region to utilize this new station.
Check out our new virtual 3D tour of what’s to come with Hydra’s groundbreaking station in Prince George!
While recently in the Prince George area, Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, paid a visit to Lodgewood Enterprises where he was given a fantastic tour by President Arlene Gagne and driver Percy. Thanks so much to the Minister for making the time to see the converted truck during his visit!
Hydra Continues to Be Recognised for its Emissions Reduction Impact
In June, national sustainable economy magazine, Corporate Knights, released the inaugural Future 50 ranking where out of a pool of 4,015 innovators, Hydra was ranked in the Top 25 fastest-growing privately owned sustainable companies. We were also a finalist in the Foresight Canada BC Cleantech Awards in the “Rising Star” category. And our CEO, Jessica Verhagen was named one of the 50 most influential and boundary-pushing Women in Hydrogen by the Hydrogen Economist recognising her leadership in driving real hydrogen trucking solutions right now.
We were especially pleased to find that the Honourable Minister Selena Robinson included a mention of Hydra in the Province of BC’s Budget 2022 Speech after expanding the Motor Fuel Tax exemption to be inclusive of all hydrogen applications in transportation. This means that more businesses can adopt hydrogen in internal combustion engines, and the use and development of HICE applications will be encouraged.
That covers our “Real hydrogen now” progress during the first six months of this year. Thank you for taking the time to read this and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for continued updates and stay tuned for our next newsletter later this year!
