World’s first hydrogen fuel station for trucks opens in Oakland – IE.
FirstElement Fuel, a California-based company established in 2013, has opened the world’s first hydrogen fuel station for commercial trucks just outside the Port of Oakland. The station’s capacity is more than 10 times the capacity of any previous station.
Hyundai XCIENT fuel-cell tractors, carrying 68.6 kilograms of hydrogen each for 450 miles of range, have been dedicated to the station for “drayage” duty. Hydrogen trucks from Nikola will also be operating out of Oakland and buying fuel from FirstElement, according to Autoweek.
Cummins, Bosch, Daimler, Toyota, and Volvo are also in the line to develop the fuel-cell hydrogen trucks. In this regard, Quantron, a German company, signed a memorandum of understanding with FEF.
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According to FEF, the fuel station is capable of filling a truck’s hydrogen tanks in ten minutes, which means the station can fill around 200 trucks per day.
World leader in hydrogen refueling station solutions
FEF aims to provide safe, reliable, retail hydrogen to customers of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The company claims that it’s the world leader in hydrogen refueling station solutions, with facilities in Irvine, Santa Ana, and Livermore, CA. Till December 2023, the company had 41 retail light-duty stations throughout California and will now develop more stations to serve heavy-duty trucks powered by hydrogen.
Tyson Eckerle, clean transportation advisor for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s business development office, notes that the US federal government is handing out $8 billion to jump-start what it calls the “hydrogen economy,” and expects sufficient funding to build up to 60 more hydrogen truck stations like this one in California – which would, theoretically, be enough to serve 5,000 trucks and 1,000 buses, according to Electrick.
Nikola’s agreement with FEF
In December 2023, Nikola Corporation and FirstElement Fuel (FEF) formalized a definitive 10-year agreement to refuel Nikola’s hydrogen fuel cell electric truck at FEF’s hydrogen refueling station in Oakland, Calif. Under this strategic partnership, FEF is appointed as an authorized Nikola Fueling Solutions Partner. This collaboration enables Nikola customers to access fueling services at the new FEF multi-use heavy-duty truck station situated strategically near the port in Oakland, Calif.
The station will boast the world’s first heavy-duty truck H70 fast-fill lane for efficient hydrogen refueling. The station received funding from the California Energy Commission under the NorCal Zero Project.
Joel Ewanick, founder and executive chairman of FEF, said:
This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to transform the transportation industry and we are proud to play a role in powering Nikola’s innovative hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.
“We are confident the synergy between our shared expertise and vision will help to reshape the landscape of clean and sustainable transportation, driving towards a future powered by hydrogen.”
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World’s first hydrogen fuel station for trucks opens in Oakland – IE. source
