Loblaw Companies, a major Canadian food retailer, plans to purchase five Class 8 T680 hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks from Kenworth. With more than a 700-km range, Loblaw said, the FCEV trucks will provide greater flexibility to complete long-haul zero-emission deliveries than battery-electric trucks.
The T680 FCEV is powered by Toyota fuel-cell technology and is equipped with Toyota's 310-kW Dual Motor Assembly, capable of providing 415 horsepower continuously at a maximum payload of 82,000 lbs., and the Toyota Gen 2 Dual Fuel Cell Module.
The hydrogen FCEV trucks add to the company's growing zero-emission fleet. Earlier this year, Loblaw put its first two electric commercial Class 8 daycab vehicles on the road making short-haul deliveries from its Boucherville, Quebec, distribution center to stores within the Greater Montreal Area.
Battery-Electric Vehicles
In addition to the five hydrogen FCEVs from Kenworth, the company has approximately 35 battery-electric vehicles on order from various manufacturers, with many expected to be on the road by the end of 2024.
"We're a large company, operating an extensive supply chain network to stock stores in thousands of Canadian communities. That means our trucks are on the road in every province and territory, which creates a large footprint," said Rob Wiebe, chief administrative officer for Loblaw. "We see the opportunity to fight climate change and know we have a responsibility to find new ways to cut our carbon emissions. As technologies advance, we will advance too."
The company points out that currently battery-electric trucks cannot haul great distances without frequent charges, but hydrogen can reliably extend driving distances across entire regions.
First in Canada
Loblaw was the first Canadian organization to sign a letter of intent to purchase these hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles.
The company said the purchase of the new trucks is part of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions enterprise-wide by 2040. From 2020 to 2022, Loblaw cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 8%, according to the company's latest Environmental, Social and Governance Report.
