Loblaw and partners launch hydrogen-powered truck to advance lower-carbon refrigerated deliveries
Key takeaways
- Loblaw and partners launched a hydrogen Class 8 truck to test zero-emission refrigerated freight in real-world operations.
- The pilot collects data on vehicle range, fueling, and performance to guide future hydrogen fleet deployments.
- Collaboration between fleets, utilities, and government accelerates practical, lower-carbon solutions for heavy-duty trucking.
Loblaw Companies, FortisBC Energy, and partners recently launched the first sustained commercial demonstration of a hydrogen-powered Class 8 truck in British Columbia. The company, which operates grocery distribution and retail services across Canada, is deploying the truck to evaluate zero-emission refrigerated freight in daily operations.
Supported by FortisBC's Clean Growth Innovation Fund, the hydrogen truck began service the week of October 14. It has completed numerous refrigerated deliveries from the Lower Mainland to Squamish and has logged hundreds of kilometers of zero-emission operation. The project collects data on performance, fueling, and operating conditions to guide future hydrogen vehicle and infrastructure planning for temperature-controlled freight.
Project partners and support are as follows:
- HTEC, Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA), BC Trucking Association (BCTA), Deloitte, Transport Canada, the province of British Columbia, and Hyundai Motor Company
- Funding includes $30,000 from FortisBC’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund and support from B.C.’s Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund for the Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell truck.
- Data collection and analysis are supported through Transport Canada’s Zero Emission Trucking Program via Deloitte and AMTA’s Trucking Testbed.
The hydrogen truck is leased from HTEC and fueled at HTEC’s Southeast Marine Drive hydrogen station in Vancouver. Its operation on refrigerated routes between the Lower Mainland and Squamish provides insights into vehicle range, efficiency, and performance—key metrics for scaling zero-emission solutions in temperature-sensitive freight. The demonstration will continue through late November 2025.
"Heavy-duty transportation is one of the hardest sectors to lower carbon emissions, but through collaboration and innovative thinking, we can help drive forward solutions," Mike Leclair, VP of major projects and LNG at FortisBC, said. "Hydrogen offers the long range and fast refueling needed for freight, and this demonstration shows how industry, utilities, and government can work together to advance practical, lower carbon solutions."
This piece was created with the assistance of generative AI tools and was edited by our content team for clarity and accuracy.