AZETEC launches first heavy-duty Class 8 FCEVs suited for Canada's winter roads

The Alberta Zero Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration (AZETEC), a groundbreaking $22 million initiative supported by Emissions Reduction Alberta, is playing a pivotal role in advancing hydrogen mobility across Canada.  

This project is driving two critical advancements that will further establish Alberta’s role in the future of clean energy and transportation – including producing fuel-cell grade hydrogen and the development of fuel cell electric vehicles that are strong enough to perform through the Canadian winter.  

Long-haul transportation has long been a challenge for zero-emission solutions and these hydrogen-powered trucks are set to prove the viability of fuel cells in real-world, long-distance applications, where extreme weather and heavy loads can push conventional technologies to their limits.  

These heavy-duty trucks will be put to the test on Alberta’s biggest transportation corridor, the QEII – and their performance there could set a new standard for zero-emission trucking in Canada.

AZETEC is leveraging Alberta’s abundant and low-cost natural gas resources for the production of fuel-cell-grade hydrogen.  

By utilizing carbon capture technologies, hydrogen production in Alberta is both low-cost and low-carbon and can be at a global scale, positioning the province at the forefront of the global energy transition.

Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), one of AZETEC’s 16 stakeholders, has recently began collaborating with their partners on the design, manufacturing, and testing of two of the first-ever of their size and capacity hydrogen FCEV Class-8 fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) trucks -- designed specifically for Canadian weights and winter conditions.  

“Our initiatives have laid a strong foundation for alternative energy adoption in heavy-duty transportation,” Robert Harper, AMTA President, said. “The introduction of FCEVs, investments in hydrogen production, storage, distribution, along with mechanic and safety training has positioned Alberta as a leader in the hydrogen economy.

The official launch of the AZETEC trucks at the AMTA Industry Innovations expo marks a milestone in Alberta’s hydrogen journey.  

Not only do these trucks have the potential to reduce emissions in the transportation sector, but they also showcase Alberta’s commitment to innovation in clean technology. If successful, this project could accelerate the adoption of hydrogen fuel across industries and regions, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of freight transport — a sector that accounts for a substantial portion of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The development of carbon neutral, cold weather heavy-duty trucking – and the production of hydrogen with it -- is not just a technical achievement, but another achievement for the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge.  

“The 5000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge is about more than just putting vehicles on the road,” Brent Lakeman, Edmonton Global’s director of the hydrogen initiative, said.

“The challenge is about building the hydrogen infrastructure that is suited to our Western Canadian conditions and will drive the clean energy economy forward. Initiatives like these pave the way forward for more hydrogen-powered solutions. Every hydrogen and dual fuel vehicle that hits the road helps to prove the viability of hydrogen and brings us one step closer to widespread adoption.”

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