Illinois Gets Its First Class 8 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
DHL Supply Chain, a contract logistics company, and drink company Diageo North America, will incorporate two fuel cell electric trucks, powered with hydrogen, to their US fleet. The Class 8 trucks, manufactured by Nikola Corp., will be deployed and fueled with a HYLA modular refueler at the Diageo campus in Plainfield, Illinois, marking a milestone for the state. HYLA is Nikola’s global brand that encompasses the company’s energy products for producing, distributing, and dispensing hydrogen to fuel its zero-emissions trucks.
DHL Supply Chain has been Diageo North America’s contract logistics partner for more than 20 years. The hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks are part of a broader sustainable supply chain strategy that has included use of battery electric vehicles, optimizing vehicle usage and routes, shifting to a multimodal approach, and increased use of US Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay partner carriers. These efforts have resulted in year-over-year reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for both Diageo and DHL.
Nikola’s hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks utilize fuel cell technology to convert hydrogen into electricity, powering the vehicle’s electric motors providing up to 500 miles (805 km) in range on a single fill. Replacing two diesel trucks with fuel cell electric vehicles is expected to reduce 80% carbon emissions over the course of a year.
“We are extremely excited to be a part of this partnership delivering the first set of heavy-duty hydrogen trucks to Illinois, home to our largest manufacturing hub in North America,” said Marsha McIntosh, president of North America supply at Diageo. “This initiative is part of our continued work to decarbonize our footprint in Plainfield, Illinois, making our operations more efficient and sustainable.”
Diageo’s presence in Plainfield has expanded significantly over the years, playing a strategic role in its regional operations. This hub is home to manufacturing, bottling, and warehousing facilities, and it is instrumental in producing some of the company’s most iconic brands, like Captain Morgan and Smirnoff. Incorporating hydrogen fuel cell trucks into its fleet will contribute to Diageo’s broader efforts to reach net zero carbon emissions across direct operations by 2030 and its value chain by 2050.
With the trucks being the first of its kind to operate in Illinois, DHL Supply Chain, Diageo North America, and Nikola collaborated for more than 18 months to ensure a successful deployment. The initiative involved extensive coordination with state and local stakeholders to enable a smooth and safe rollout. The collaboration entailed reviewing critical operational parameters, conducting trial runs under real-world operating conditions, and securing permissions to operate hydrogen fueling assets. Additionally, the companies provided education about the new technology, demonstrating the commitment of all parties involved to pioneering safe sustainable transportation solutions.
