Global hydrogen fuel cell automotive startup Hyzon Motors has announced it is advancing its partnership with Hiringa Energy with an electric heavy-duty fleet deal in New Zealand.
Hyzon revealed it has agreed to supply 1,500 hydrogen fuel-cell-powered ‘heavy goods vehicles’ built in the Netherlands to the to Hiringa by 2026, with the first batch to arrive at the end of 2021.
“We see New Zealand as an attractive market for the deployment of our hydrogen fuel cell technology,” Craig Knight, the CEO of Hyzon Motors said.
“The hydrogen supply network designed by Hiringa is a key enabler for the realisation of our decarbonisation strategy.
“This partnership aims to position New Zealand as a global leader in the adoption of zero emission heavy vehicle technology, and we are pleased to be playing a major role in this transition.”
The vehicles are to be assembled at Hyzon’s facility at Winschoten in the Netherlands, and will accrording to Hyzon be fully compliant with New Zealand requirements.
The vehicle supply agreement builds on the signing of a Heads of Agreement between the two companies in August.
The Hyzon fuel cell electric trucks will be powered by green hydrogen that will be supplied by Hiringa through its NZ refuelling infrastructure.
Hiringa claims its hydrogen fuel network is set to start operating and refuelling vehicles by the end of the year. The company says it will expand to eight hydrogen stations across New Zealand next year, with a target to service 100 per cent of the North Island and 82 per cent of the South Island’s heavy freight routes.
“This order is a significant milestone and the culmination of many hours of work from the Hyzon and Hiringa teams,” Cathy Clennet, the chair of Hiringa Energy said.
“We are very excited to have New Zealand road compliant heavy trucks capable of meeting New Zealand’s transport needs arriving this year.
“This is a key step toward decarbonizing our road transport, a growing industry that Kiwis rely on everyday as it supplies us with food, products, and essential goods. We are pleased leading New Zealand brands are stepping up to participate in this exciting initiative.
“Consumers and companies are becoming more aware of emissions and together with Hyzon we are providing ‘kiwi’ businesses with a viable solution.”
Hyzon says its FCEV trucks are designed to meet New Zealand road requirements and the demands of heavy freight applications.
The trucks will be built in a 6×4 configuration, will include a sleeper cab option and will have a gross combination mass (GCM) of 58 tonnes and range of 680km.
Hyzon’s FCEV trucks said to have a comparable-to-diesel refuelling times.
