When people see our new heavy-duty hydrogen refueling station open, it’s natural to focus on the visible infrastructure: the dispensers, the equipment, and the trucks pulling in to refuel.
Those elements are important. The facility in Tsawwassen is Canada’s first commercial heavy-duty hydrogen station capable of fueling long-range fuel cell trucks at both 350 and 700 bar pressure. It’s a significant milestone for HTEC and for the broader transportation industry because it provides the dedicated infrastructure needed to support hydrogen-powered freight operations at a commercial scale.
But the bigger story isn’t the station itself. It’s what the station makes possible.
Freight transportation keeps our economy moving and delivers the goods we rely on every day, but it also represents one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the province. The challenge is clear: how do we make freight transportation cleaner without sacrificing the reliability and performance businesses depend on?
That’s why the opening of our heavy-duty hydrogen station in Tsawwassen is such an important milestone. Not because it’s a new piece of infrastructure, but because it helps move hydrogen freight from concept to everyday operations.
As Canada’s first commercially available heavy-duty hydrogen station capable of fueling at 700 bar, it supports the next generation of long-range fuel cell trucks and helps unlock their full potential. Higher-pressure fueling allows trucks to carry more hydrogen, extending their range and reducing the need for frequent refueling. That means more time moving goods, less time at the pump, and better utilization of fleet assets.
Ultimately, it’s not just a technological achievement, it’s a practical step toward making zero-emission freight transportation more efficient, more scalable, and more commercially viable.
Hydrogen trucks are operating on real routes, serving real customers and moving real freight. They’re working in ports, logistics corridors and distribution networks that are critical to our economy. Every kilometre travelled helps build experience, improve understanding and demonstrate where hydrogen can deliver value.
Every fleet operator, every driver and every truck on the road contributes to a better understanding of how hydrogen can support heavy-duty transportation. That’s one of the reasons partnerships have been so important. Progress comes from operators, infrastructure providers, governments, vehicle manufacturers and Indigenous partners working together to solve real-world challenges.
Because of our partnerships, this project is also a made-in-B.C. success story. From the hydrogen supplied at the station to the infrastructure that was designed and built largely by B.C.-based companies, this project reflects the talent, innovation, and expertise found across the province.
At the same time, the station is part of something bigger. It is a key component of a growing hydrogen hub in Metro Vancouver designed to address one of the biggest barriers to hydrogen adoption: aligning supply with demand by bringing together local hydrogen production, distribution, refueling infrastructure, and fuel cell vehicles through HTEC’s Vehicle Leasing Corporation (VLC), the hub creates an integrated ecosystem where each part supports and strengthens the others. The result is a stronger foundation for hydrogen-powered freight transportation, greater confidence for industry participants, and a clearer path toward commercial-scale adoption.
The station is open. The trucks are running. The freight is moving.
The opening of the Tsawwassen station is an important milestone, but it’s not the destination. Continued investment in hydrogen infrastructure will help create more fueling options for fleet operators, expand access to zero-emission transportation, and support the growth of hydrogen-powered freight across the region. Each new station strengthens the network, making hydrogen an increasingly practical and reliable solution for the movement of goods.