Hydrogenics partners with Purolator in ‘Greening the Fleet’ plan

Purolator Courier Ltd. has contracted Hydrogenics Corporation to design and launch a fuel cell hybrid delivery van and an on-site hydrogen refueling system as part of their “Greening the Fleet” initiative.

In a two-year initiative exploring clean transportation technologies, the designer and maker of hydrogen and fuel cell systems will establish a Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FCHEV). A fuel cell/battery electric propulsion system will be designed and integrated into a Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (HEV) platform, produced by Azure Dynamics, to be used in Purolator’s delivery fleet.

Another point of the project is to develop and commission a hydrogen generation and refueling system using Hydrogenics proprietary PEM electrolysis technology, which is capable of cleanly generating hydrogen from water using renewable energy. The station will go up at one of Purolator’s depots in the Greater Toronto Area, and will potentially become one part in Toronto’s budding hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

“In keeping with our earlier commitment to deploy environmentally friendly vehicles in our fleet, this project takes Purolator and the industry to a whole new level where we can one day lead the industry to zero emissions,” Purolator President and CEO Robert Johnson said in a press release. “We are very proud to be a global leader, working with a company like Hydrogenics, in the implementation of this exciting technology. We hope this will be a true win-win investment for everyone – Purolator, Hydrogenics, and the environment.”

The project is partially funded through the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA), a $23-million partnership with the Government of Canada to demonstrate and evaluate fuelling options for fuel-cell vehicles in Canada.