Winter 2022
Another year has flown by but not without Hydra making real hydrogen trucking progress setting the stage for significant expansion in 2023! We continue to lead the way in reducing commercial heavy-duty truck emissions right now, in providing local, clean fuel sources to fleet owners at fixed diesel-equivalent prices they can count on, and in offering the most profitable way for licensing partners to monetize high volumes of hydrogen. Let’s take a look at some of our highlights during the second half of 2022 and leading into 2023.
Hydra Breaks Ground on the World’s Largest Hydrogen Refuelling Station for Heavy-duty Trucks
In September upon completion of Hydra’s engineering study with Solaris, we officially broke ground on our flagship hydrogen refuelling station in Prince George, B.C. as part of our planned Western Canadian Hydrogen Corridor. The new station and hydrogen production will be located on five acres, will produce 3,250 kilograms of hydrogen a day, and can refuel as quickly as diesel and up to 24 Hydra-converted trucks each hour across four bays. The station’s low-carbon hydrogen is being produced from two on-site, 5-megawatt electrolysers with electricity coming from BC Hydro, B.C.’s main electricity utility.
The station is scheduled to be operational by mid-2024 and will service local heavy-duty trucks that have been converted to run on both hydrogen and diesel using our zero-cost conversion kits. This forms an end-to-end template for HaaS licensees that proves hydrogen supply and demand can profitably come together right now. It also showcases how locally produced hydrogen can be used locally vs. being exported.
Hydra Continues to Solidify its Role in Helping Diversify Prince George’s Economy
Recently, Hydra participated in the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, Western Canada’s largest multi-sector resource conference, which kicked off with a keynote address from the Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, who highlighted the hydrogen refuelling station we’re building in the region. Local media outlet, MYPGNOW, also featured the importance of Hydra’s station in the City’s quest to diversify its economy in lieu of forestry sector shutdowns. Additionally, Executive Director of Hydrogen BC, Matthew Klippentein, shared his thoughts on Hydra leading into the event stating, “Theirs is a solution which I think will have a lot of adoption. On a cost-per-kilometre it’s supposed to be cheaper than straight diesel, they reduce their emissions and if anything goes wrong with this new hydrogen system the diesel engine is there to take over.”
At the conference, our CEO, Jessica Verhagen, spoke on a panel covering hydrogen now and into the future and took part in the supporting Low Carbon Leadership Tour presented by the City of Prince George and Tourism Prince George. The Tour showcased local companies who are reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through their operations and products.
Prince George remains a critical focus for Hydra. Rezoning for the land on which Hydra’s refuelling station sits is in progress as we consult with nearby landowners. At the same time we are continuing to develop relationships with fleets in the area looking to convert to hydrogen-diesel co-combustion.
Hydra Surpasses 300,000 kms (186,000 miles) of
On-road Driving
We continue to test and measure the performance of our proprietary hydrogen-diesel, co-combustion technology and to date, have now completed over 300,000 kms (186,000 miles) of on-road driving by professional truck drivers. Even in the most challenging weather and road conditions with the heaviest payloads, we continue to verify that hydrogen makes sense for heavy-duty transportation and our zero-cost conversion approach makes sense for the approximate 5 million Class 8 vehicles registered on the roads of North America today.
Hydra Deploys Machine Learning into its
Hydrogen Conversion Kits Used in Road Trial with North American Truck Stop Provider’s Own Fleet
Hydra kicked off a road trial with North American truck stop provider, Pilot Flying J, who represents a travel centre network of over 750 locations throughout North America offering everything from truck parking to fuel. They also have a large fleet of their own trucks they’re wanting to reduce emissions within.
This initial truck demo uniquely incorporates Hydra’s proprietary machine learning that includes the ability to auto-calibrate the hydrogen injection process eliminating downtime needed to switch between different truck makes and models and allowing our technology to be truly platform agnostic. We also anticipate increased diesel displacement through these machine learning optimisations.
Hydra’s Technology Reaches Third Canadian Province With Help from Fleet Customer and Valued Partner, VEXSL
Continuing Hydra’s focus on working closely with critical regional trucking associations, our dual-fuel conversion solution for heavy-duty trucks was not only featured at the BC Trucking Association (BCTA)’s Low & Zero-Emissions Commercial Vehicle Summit but also at the Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA)’s recent Pathways to Net Zero event thanks to our Alberta fleet customer, Cole Fouillard of Veteran Express Secure Logistics (VEXSL). Cole was able to drive his Hydra-converted armoured vehicle - the first in the world - to the Regina conference where STA members could get a first-hand look at the technology and impact on trucks.
Hydra Secures a Tax Break for Individual and Corporate Investors in B.C. and is Recognized as one of Canada’s Most Investable Cleantech Ventures
This Fall, Hydra announced it has officially registered as an Eligible Business Corporation (EBC) in British Columbia under the Province’s Small Business Venture Capital Program. This means for B.C.-based individuals and companies wanting to invest in Hydra and its continued effort to decarbonise heavy-duty trucking sooner than later, they will receive a 30% tax credit on their investment. This couldn’t come at a better time as we’re currently raising funds to help drive completion of our Prince George hydrogen refuelling station. This was followed by Hydra making the Foresight Canada’s Foresight 50 List for the second year in a row recognizing Canada’s most investable cleantech ventures.
Hydra Continues to Receive Global Media Coverage as
the Little Canadian Company that Could
Throughout 2022, Hydra and its partners were featured in more than 50 media outlets around the world validating the incredible interest not only in hydrogen-based transportation but also in what Hydra is uniquely making happen on the roads right now well ahead of competitors. Here are just a few examples of what’s been written about us:
The Globe & Mail
In November, Hydra was included in The Globe’s “Excellence in Research & Innovation Report” which gave us the chance to “look under the hood” within Hydra itself and feature some of our technical team and underlying technology.
Reuters - Renewables
In October, Hydra was featured in an article covering the recent hydrogen hub spending spree by the U.S. Federal Government due to our unique ability to solve the typical “chicken and egg” challenge with clean energy innovations.
Environment Journal
Canada’s leading environment outlet is just one example of the extensive coverage we received around the official groundbreaking of our Prince George hydrogen refuelling station. From numerous articles in the Prince George region to outlets overseas, everyone took notice of this milestone event.
