Industrial, medical and specialty gases supplier Airgas, an Air Liquide company, signed an agreement with Hyzon Motors to pilot two heavy duty hydrogen fuel cell trucks.
The Hyzon 100 kW and 200 kW hydrogen fuel cell powered trucks will be tested on cylinder delivery routes in Los Angeles from Fall 2022. The Hyzon 100 kW fuel cell truck is being showcased at the ongoing Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach until 12 May.
The trucks are upcycled from diesel trucks and equipped with Hyzon’s proprietary fuel cell system, a lightweight hydrogen storage design and an electric drivetrain. The performance, payload and refuelling time is similar to diesel vehicles, with only water vapour as the byproduct.
The solution offered by Hyzon provides operators the ability to transition their fleets to clean energy without modifying daily operations.
“Hyzon is leading the transition to zero emissions by providing hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles with leading fuel cell technology,” Cory Shumaker, Hyzon Motors USA Head of Business Development ‑ Americas, commented. “Hyzon vehicles are built to suit demanding applications, including ultra-heavy freight, construction, refuse collection, perishable deliveries, and public transit. It’s all done without challenging the already strained electricity grids – in the United States and around the world.”
Meanwhile, Airgas has purchased wind power for its Air Separation Unit in Cleburne, Texas as part of its sustainability efforts. It will be used with other energy sources to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the facility by approximately 15,840 metric tons per year.
Airgas started receiving wind power at the Texas plant from November 2021 from NextEra Energy Resources’ subsidiary. It is using around 20% of the renewable wind electricity purchased through an Air Liquide Power Purchase Agreement.
The Cleburne ASU produces liquid argon, nitrogen and oxygen. With the addition of wind power, it has become the first Airgas primary production unit to use energy mix and other locally-sourced renewable energy.
Airgas is continuing to search for new local renewable energy sources for other ASUs too.
