Government officials, Alberta-based industrial carriers, project partners and supporters, industry stakeholders, and Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) Board management, and staff gathered on February 10 to officially launch Canada’s first heavy-duty alternative fuel demonstrations.
The AMTA-led Hydrogen Industrial Vehicle Demonstrations Project, in collaboration with the Association’s project partners, will provide industrial carriers with opportunities to make use of and test Class 8 vehicles that operate with alternative, energy-efficient fuels (hydrogen) inside their business operations.
“AMTA is pleased to guide this project, which introduces this modern technology to our carriers in a low-risk and cost-effective way. This project will help Canada reach its 2050 net-zero goals and support the widespread adoption of zero-emission industrial vehicles,” said Doug Paisley, AMTA Board Chair.
Over the two-year project, these trials will collect and evaluate data regarding the performance of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles on Alberta roads, payloads, and weather conditions. It’ll also address challenges around fuel cell reliability, infrastructure, and vehicle cost and maintenance.
As modern technologies proceed to evolve, our industry must adapt and adjust accordingly. The necessity to keep pace with modern technologies within the industrial transportation industry requires a collaborative approach.
AMTA works closely with a broad range of stakeholders to discover and research critical and emerging opportunities that support the industrial transportation sector; this includes collaborating to propose and implement data-driven solutions that meet the needs and challenges of our industry and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Alberta has the correct resources, talent, and capability to turn out to be a pacesetter within the fast-growing and game-changing hydrogen industry,” said Justin Riemer, CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta. “Through this initiative and others, AMTA and its partners are helping ensure a healthy pipeline of hydrogen technologies across the worth chain proceed to advance towards commercialization.”
Corporations affiliated with the project include Hyzon Motors, Hydra energy, Nikola Corporation, and VEXSL.
Featured image: An on-camera chat between Hydra’s VP of Partnerships, Laura Guzman, and VEXSL CEO, Cole Fouillard, with the Hydra-converted VEXSL truck within the background. Image credit: Hydra Energy.