Walmart Canada’s new hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric semi-truck is now on the roads in Mississauga, Ontario as the retailer makes strides towards a 100% alternatively-powered fleet.
The major retail giant has started using the Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV Class 8 tractor which boasts a range of about 800 kilometres and on average can avoid 97 metric tons of CO2 tailpipe emissions annually.
According to Nikola, Walmart Canada is also the first retail fleet to operate one of these trucks in North America.
The introduction of trucks powered by hydrogen fuel opens the door to longer-haul travel with alternative power, extending the range that’s currently possible with the fleet’s electric options.
The Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck carries high-pressure gaseous hydrogen onboard in specialized tanks, similar to how a conventional truck carries diesel. The hydrogen then runs through the fuel cell stack, which is converted to electricity by combining it with oxygen, with water vapor as the only byproduct. This electric power is transferred to the high-voltage power-net, which can charge the on-board batteries, and transfer power to the pavement via an e-axle with integrated electric motors.
