A commercial hydrogen refueling station, which the builiders are calling the first in the province for the heavy-duty transportation sector, has officially opened.

Nikola Corporation via the HYLA brand, together with ITD Industries, opened the station at ITD Industries’ headquarters in Etobicoke, ON. The location, at 161 The Westmall, is a pivotal location near Highway 401, Highway 427, and the Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW). 

The opening event was attended by numerous dignataries includeing Ontario premier Doug Ford.

“Congratulations to Nikola Corporation and ITD Industries on building the first commercial hydrogen refueling station for the heavy-duty transportation sector in Ontario,” said Ford.

“This milestone marks a significant step as we work together with businesses, industry and all levels of government to build reliable, affordable, and clean energy solutions to power our province’s growth.”

Other notable guests in attendance at a special launch event included Hon. Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries of Ontario as well as notable business leaders within the energy, retail and transportation industry such as Walmart Canada, Canadian Tire and Loblaws.

The station uses a 700-bar pressure-fill system, allowing hydrogen fuel to be dispensed into onboard storage for long-range vehicles, such as the Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 truck.

“It is inspiring to witness the vision of a hydrogen-powered future coming to life with the opening of this refueling station in the greater Toronto area,” said Nikola CEO Steve Girsky. “Collaborating with ITD Industries, we are not only providing trucks but also the fueling solutions to support the entire hydrogen ecosystem. This station marks significant progress in our mission to build a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure in North America.”

Together with partners such as the Canadian Hydrogen Association and other private and public organizations, including Walmart Canada, which recently became the first major retailer in Canada to use a Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric truck in its fleet, Nikola and ITD Industries are spearheading the transformation of Ontario and Canada’s commercial transportation sector towards a carbon-free future.

“The presence of so many distinguished public and private figures, underlines and validates the importance of this station launch to the future of long-haul carbon-free commercial transportation. This station is the first of several ITD is planning on erecting across Ontario with Nikola Corporation as we aim to build a hydrogen fueling corridor connecting Windsor to Montreal,” mentioned Philip Turi, COO of ITD Industries during the opening remarks.

Earlier this year, Alberta’s first commercial hydrogen refueling station was unveiled signaling the beginning of an expanded hydrogen refueling network across Western Canada. This HYLA refueling station is situated along Alberta’s two largest urban centers, the Edmonton region and Calgary.