DHL Supply Chain and the drinks firm Diageo announced Wednesday plans to add two fuel cell electric trucks (FCEV) from Nikola to their fleet in the United States.
The companies expect to cut carbon emissions by 80% over the course of a year with the new trucks, which will replace diesel-powered vehicles.
HYLA, Nikola’s refueling arm, will install a modular hydrogen station at Diageo’s largest North American manufacturing facility in Plainfield, Illinois, to service the trucks.
Earlier this week, Nikola announced that it provided 5,091 hydrogen fueling sessions between December 27, 2023, and September 30.
In the long term, HYLA plans to expand hydrogen supply to regions across the United States and Canada.
Nikola, which introduced its hydrogen energy brand HYLA last year and opened the first station in the first quarter, has currently four stations in California with a fifth one planned to open “soon” in Wilmington.
Jim Monkmeyer, President of Transportation of DHL Supply Chain said the addition of these two FCEVs is “one of many initiatives” to decarbonize the company’s business.
“As a global logistics company with the goal of decarbonizing its business, we’ve integrated sustainability as a fourth strategic bottom line named “Green Logistics of Choice” in our newly announced Strategy 2030.
The deployment of these fuel cell electric vehicles is one of many initiatives that demonstrates how we are putting action behind our words.”
Diageo’s presence in Plainfield, Illinois 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 aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions in its direct operations by 2030 and across its entire value chain by 2050, or earlier.
Last week, Nikola informed employees of a new round of layoffs, coming less than 18 months after the company cut 23% of its Arizona workforce. The latest cuts impacted 135 employees, roughly 15% of Nikola’s total workforce.
The management is expected to provide a business update when reporting its third-quarter earnings results on the last day of October.
In the third quarter of the year, Nikola sold 88 fuel cell trucks, a new record that sent year to date sales figures to 200 units.
