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Walmart Canada became the first major retailer in Canada to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck to its fleet, with the Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV Class 8 tractor now on the road.
The Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV Class 8 tractor has a range of about 800 kilometers and on average can avoid 97 metric tons of CO2 tailpipe emissions annually according to the manufacturer. The Nikola (NKLA) 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. The next step is that the 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
Looking ahead, the introduction of trucks powered by hydrogen fuel is seen opening the door to longer-haul travel with alternative power, extending the range that is currently possible with the fleet’s electric options.
“Walmart Canada has an ambitious plan to power 100% of our fleet with alternative power,” said Michael Buna, senior director, national fleet, Walmart Canada. “As we work to be more sustainable in our day-to-day fleet operations, embracing additional types of alternative power allows us to go further, faster,” he noted.
Walmart Canada is a subsidiary of Walmart (NYSE:WMT). It was founded in 1994, with the purchase of the Woolco Canada chain from the F. W. Woolworth Company.