Loblaw and FortisBC test hydrogen-powered transport in zero-emission pilot

Loblaw Companies Ltd., FortisBC Energy Inc. and partners have launched the first sustained commercial demonstration of a hydrogen-powered Class 8 truck in British Columbia.

The milestone was celebrated at Loblaw’s Marine Drive distribution centre with project contributors, industry stakeholders and government officials.

Supported by FortisBC’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund, the hydrogen pilot began operations in October to test the real-world performance of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks in daily retail service. Since the week of Oct. 14, the hydrogen-fuelled truck has completed multiple Lower Mainland–to–Squamish routes and logged hundreds of kilometres of zero-emission deliveries.

Partners in the initiative include HTEC, the Alberta Motor Transport Association, the BC Trucking Association, Deloitte, Transport Canada, the province of B.C. and Hyundai Motor Company.

Funding includes a $30,000 contribution from FortisBC’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund, with data collection and analysis supported by Transport Canada’s Zero Emission Trucking Program. The Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell truck is funded through the province’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund.

The vehicle is leased from HTEC and refuelled at the company’s Southeast Marine Drive hydrogen station in Vancouver. The demonstration will run through late November 2025, providing data to guide future hydrogen vehicle and infrastructure development in the province.

“We’re proud to support initiatives that bring together government, industry and innovators to show how Canada can lead in building a cleaner, more competitive economy,” said Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon. “By cutting emissions, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth in the transportation sector and beyond, projects like this are helping build a stronger, more resilient future for our country.”

“British Columbia is leading the way in developing practical, low-carbon solutions that will help transform how we move goods across our province,” said Adrian Dix, B.C.’s minister of energy and climate solutions.

“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,” said Mike Leclair, vice-president, major projects and LNG at FortisBC.

Jeff Grant, vice-president, commercial development at HTEC, said support from the province was “essential in securing these vehicles and enabling the deployment of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in real-world fleet operations.”

“BCTA is pleased to support this pilot,” said Dave Earle, president and CEO of the B.C. Trucking Association. “Hydrogen fuel cell trucks have the potential to meet the needs of carriers who operate longer distances and heavier loads, but we need real operating data to understand how they perform.”