New hydrogen fuel electric Walmart truck hits the roads in Mississauga

A new, Walmart hydrogen fuel cell electric truck has hit the streets in Mississauga.

Walmart Canada announced the new Nikola hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric semi-truck is now on the roads in Mississauga.

The company is the first major retailer in Canada to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck to its fleet, the retailer said in a press release last week.

Operating with zero tailpipe emissions, the Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV Class 8 tractor has a range of about 800 kilometres and on average can avoid 97 metric tons of CO2 tailpipe emissions annually, according to Nikola, an Arizona-based company.

Sales for the new trucks are starting to pick up. For the first half of 2024, Nikola wholesaled 112 hydrogen fuel cell trucks.

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, Walmart said.

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“We’re proud to be introducing Walmart Canada’s first hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle as a major milestone on our journey to becoming a regenerative company,” said Gonzalo Gebara, president and CEO, Walmart Canada.

Walmart Canada has a plan to power 100 per cent of their fleet with alternative power.

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 vapour 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.

Hydrogen is the simplest, lightest and most abundant element on earth, according to Natural Resources Canada.

“The need to mitigate climate change is transforming energy systems around the world, and hydrogen has a critical role to play in the creation of a carbon-neutral future,” Natural Resources Canada states on its website.

“A clean hydrogen economy can help Canada diversify our future energy mix, generate economic benefits, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.”