Alberta fleets were offered free trials of hydrogen trucks

In late August 2022, the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) invited its member fleets to test hydrogen-powered trucks in their own operations at no cost.

The demonstration program

• The program was set to begin in fall 2022 and run until 2024.
• Nikola Motor Company, Hyzon Motors and Hydra Energy were the technology suppliers.
• Trucks would be provided at no cost through leasing firm Driving Force, though the AMTA said fleets might need extra insurance.
• Natural Resources Canada and Prairies Economic Development Canada funded the project, including the hydrogen fuel.
• The AMTA listed suitable routes including Edmonton and Calgary return-to-base runs, Edmonton-Calgary via the QE2 (by 2023), Highway 1 from Calgary to Medicine Hat, Highway 43 from Edmonton to Grande Prairie and Highway 16 from Edmonton to Lloydminster. Fuelling depots were to be set up at key locations.

AMTA chairman Jude Groves said more than 80 carriers had taken part in hydrogen truck ride-alongs the association held earlier in the year.

A separate project

The program was separate from Alberta's AZETEC (Alberta Zero-Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration) project. Under AZETEC, Bison Transport and Trimac Transportation were set to haul freight in 2023 with Freightliner Cascadia gliders fitted with Ballard Power Systems fuel cells and Dana electric drivetrains.