Vancouver to use hydrogen trucks to decarbonise

The Provincial Government of British Columbia is providing CAN$4 million financial support for a project which will help ween B.C.’s port industries off carbon by introducing hydrogen fuel-cell powered trucks.

“We’re working to reduce emissions in B.C.’s commercial transport sector, which accounts for about 60% of transport emissions and 25% of total provincial emissions,” Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, told North Shore News.

“Hydrogen will be essential in helping B.C. make the transition to cleaner energy solutions as we work toward meeting legislated greenhouse gas reduction targets.”

Hydrogen focus

Ms Osborne announced the funding as part of a regional drive to see reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 110 kilotonnes per year.

The money will largely go to a pilot project demonstrating the first fleet of hydrogen trucks to operate across the Port of Vancouver.

Four yard trucks will be put to work at the BC Ferries terminal and Tidewater Container Services’ facility. One of two drayage trucks will be used to haul shipping containers by Harbourlink from Delta Port to a distribution centre.

The other will be used by HTEC, the North Vancouver-based hydrogen firm leading the project, to move hydrogen from its Metro Vancouver production plants to its growing network of filling stations around B.C.

The trucks will be prototypes outfitted with fuel-cell engines, electric drives and hydrogen storage tanks, designed and assembled by Kelowna’s Hexagon Purus.

These first two vehicles are expected to arrive by the end of the year with remaining four coming in 2024.