Supply chain delays have slowed the project, but New Zealand’s largest hydrogen fuel cell electric truck initiative now looks set to hit the road from the third quarter of this year.

Hydrogen transport initiatives have made more local headlines recently with the launch of a new zero-emission aviation consortium between six partners - international aerospace leader Airbus, global green energy company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), Air New Zealand, next generation energy company Hiringa Energy, liquid hydrogen solution pioneers Fabrum, and Christchurch Airport.

The consortium is developing a 400-hectare renewable energy precinct called Kōwhai Park near Christchurch airport to pioneer the commercial deployment of green hydrogen-powered aircraft. 

The truck programme between partners Hiringa Energy, Waitomo Group and TR Group, with funding support from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, dates back to a late-2020 announcement. It will see fuel cell electric trucks operated across a range of linehaul, container movement and logging roles.

Ongoing supply chain issues have pushed back the original timeline of having the trucks operating in 2022.

A fleet of 20 DAF CF-based Hyzon 6x4 fuel cell tractor units will be supplied by TR Group to operators including Fulton Hogan, Centre Port, StraitNZ, PBT, MOVe Logistics and others.

Capable of operating at 58-tonnes, the trucks have a range of 600km on a tank of hydrogen. TR Group will own and lease the trucks to customers with a fully maintained operating lease.

“We are now looking to have the first two trucks here in the third quarter of this year and two more in the fourth quarter. That will give us a chance to do some local testing before the rest of the trucks arrive next year,” says TR Group general manager Brendan King.

The construction of Waitomo’s fuel stations and the supply of the hydrogen generation, compression and storage equipment have also experienced delays.

All four of the fuel stations in the first phase of construction are now timed for completion around June to September this year, just ahead of the first trucks arriving.

Some of the hardware has arrived in New Zealand with Hiringa Energy displaying the containerised hydrogen storage system at the TMC Trucking Industry Show in Christchurch late last year. These will be located at the Waitomo Group sites. 

The first 20-foot container on show in Christchurch houses nine hydrogen storage cylinders, storing 350kg of hydrogen for refuelling vehicles. It works in conjunction with the on-site electrolyser and compressor/refueller units due to arrive in New Zealand soon. There is also a larger unit housed in40-foot containers.

“We now have four of them [storage containers] in the country and a fifth one is complete in the UK and being used to test the compression system,” says Ryan McDonald, Hiringa Energy Head of New Business.

The FCEV trucks, the hydrogen electrolysers, compression and storage equipment and the four initial Waitomo  stations in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Palmerston North represent the three major pieces of the project. The Q3 timing for the trucks and stations will see the hydrogen momentum build in the second half of this year.

It’s also expected visitors to the Brisbane Truck Show in May will be able to view a Hyzon FCEV truck.