Canada Opens First Commercial 700-Bar Hydrogen Refuelling Station for Heavy-Duty Trucks
Canada has reached a significant milestone in the development of hydrogen-powered transport with the opening of the country’s first commercial 700-bar clean hydrogen refuelling station for heavy-duty vehicles in British Columbia.
The new facility, developed by HTEC, is located on Tsawwassen First Nation industrial lands at the Chevron Commercial Cardlock site in Tsawwassen. The station is designed to support the growing deployment of hydrogen fuel cell trucks and forms part of a wider effort to decarbonise one of the most challenging sectors of the transport industry.
The station will initially support a fleet of 12 Class 7 and Class 8 fuel cell electric trucks operating under the British Columbia Hydrogen Truck Pilot Project and the B.C. Hydrogen Ports Project. The vehicles will be used on regional freight and drayage routes, providing real-world operational data while helping to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-powered commercial transport.
The project is a key component of HTEC’s H2 Gateway Programme and strengthens the company’s Metro Vancouver Hydrogen Transportation Hub. The hub integrates hydrogen production, distribution and refuelling infrastructure, including HTEC’s 1.8-tonne-per-day hydrogen production facility in Burnaby and an expanding network of hydrogen refuelling stations.
The new station is capable of dispensing hydrogen at both 350 bar and 700 bar pressures, with a daily capacity of 400 kilograms. The higher 700-bar capability allows fuel cell trucks to carry more hydrogen, travel longer distances and operate more efficiently, making the technology increasingly viable for commercial freight applications.
Hydrogen supplied to the station is produced at HTEC’s Burnaby facility using low-carbon production methods. The station is expected to serve a range of vehicle types, including hydrogen fuel cell trucks, diesel-hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles and hydrogen-powered buses.
The development was made possible through collaboration between a number of public and private sector partners. Tsawwassen First Nation provided the site for the facility, while financing support was provided by the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Additional funding came from Natural Resources Canada and the Government of British Columbia through its low-carbon fuel initiatives and Innovative Clean Energy Fund.
Industry partners involved in the project include Powertech Labs, Hyundai Motor Company, Unilia and Elemental Trucks. Early fleet participants Harbour Link Container Services and Triple Eight Transport will be among the first operators to deploy Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks using the station.
Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Laura Cassidy said the project demonstrates how economic development and environmental stewardship can work together to create long-term opportunities for communities while supporting a more sustainable future.
HTEC President and Chief Executive Officer Colin Armstrong described the station as an important step towards integrating hydrogen into mainstream heavy-duty transportation. He said the facility provides fleet operators with the confidence to deploy fuel cell trucks in everyday logistics operations while supporting the growth of a low-carbon transport network.
The launch reflects growing momentum behind hydrogen as a clean fuel solution for commercial transport. As governments and industry work to reduce emissions from freight and logistics, projects such as the Tsawwassen station are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the transition to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles across Canada.
