Walmart Canada has made a significant step towards a 100% alternative fuel fleet by deploying its first hydrogen fuel cell-powered Nikola Tre semi-truck. Walmart says this move makes Walmart Canada the first major retail chain in North America to integrate a hydrogen fuel cell electric semi-truck into its fleet.
On this move Walmart Canada president and CEO Gonzalo Gebara stated. “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. This is a first for a retailer in Canada and is an example of how we will continue to push forward, embrace new technology, and spark change within the industry.”
The Nikola HFCEV is a Class 8 tractor with a range of about 800 kilometers (over 400 miles) per tank. It has an 82,000-pound gross combined weight rating (GCWR) and can avoid nearly 100 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually compared to a diesel semi, highlighting the importance of electrifying commercial trucks to combat climate change.
“People might wonder why build a semi truck?” said Elon Musk at Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory in late 2022, when the company delivered electric semi-trucks to Pepsi. “It’s 20% of US vehicle emissions.” While the EPA notes that medium and heavy-duty vehicles account for 23% of transportation greenhouse emissions, including a range of vehicles beyond semi-trucks, the impact of these vehicles on overall emissions is significant.
Walmart’s adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology comes amid frustration with delays from Tesla. In April, Reuters reported that retailers like Walmart and Pepsi were turning to rival electric truck manufacturers due to prolonged waits for Tesla’s electric semi-trucks.
“Walmart Canada has an ambitious plan to power 100% of our fleet with alternative power. We’re proud to be the first retailer in Canada to introduce a hydrogen fuel cell semi-truck to our fleet as a major milestone towards achieving that goal. 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.” said Michael Buna, senior director of Walmart Canada’s national fleet
The Nikola Tre HFCEV represents Walmart Canada’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in logistics. This hydrogen fuel cell truck is expected to play a vital role in reducing the company’s carbon footprint while maintaining the efficiency required for its distribution network. Walmart Canada continues to lead the retail industry in adopting greener, more sustainable commercial transportation solutions.
