HYDROGEN-powered bus and truck options for the local heavy transport sector will soon have an enhanced sales and support structure via Australian-based BLK Auto and its established and new partners, given recent public announcements.
Firstly, BLK Auto has signed a binding Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (HFCEV) and hydrogen-supply ‘term sheet’ with fellow Australian-based company Pure Hydrogen, the companies report, while zero-emissions hydrogen powered commercial vehicle company Hyzon Motors Australia is to make Melbourne its new headquarters under a partnership agreement with the RACV, they confirm.
Specialist vehicle importer and distributor BLK Auto’s term sheet with Australian Securities Exchange-listed clean energy company Pure Hydrogen Corporation is for the sale and purchase of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEV) and hydrogen as a fuel, they explain.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties will further progress negotiations concerning the potential for Pure Hydrogen to sell HFCEV buses and trucks to its customers as a ‘wet hire’ on behalf of BLK Auto, with BLK Auto to also provide Pure Hydrogen with the option of selling hydrogen to BLK Auto’s HFCEV end-users, they state.
Above (L-R): Anthony Taylor – Aftersales manager, Electric Vehicles, BLK Auto, David Jiear – national fleet manager, Zero Emission Vehicles, BLK Auto and Clint Butler – sales manager Pure Hydrogen Corporation Limited.
GROWING DEMAND
Pure Hydrogen is an Australian east coast-focused clean energy company with hydrogen, gas and mobility businesses. The company has five hydrogen projects under development and three gas projects, being the Windorah Gas Project in the Cooper Basin, Project Venus CSG in the Surat Basin in Queensland and the Serowe Project CSG in Botswana, it confirms.
The agreement carries an initial five-year term, with the option of a one-year extension if agreed by both parties, and is anticipated to commence from 1 July, 2022.
The agreement remains subject to numerous conditions including due diligence by both parties, whereby the two companies would work together on co-marketing and commercialisation opportunities in the hydrogen transport and infrastructure space.
This agreement will allow BLK Auto and Pure Hydrogen to more efficiently cater to the Australian transport industry’s growing demand for hydrogen-powered fleets, they state.
“I’m excited to reach this agreement with Pure Hydrogen as this continues our solid journey forwards with Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles,” BLK Auto managing director Jason Pecotic said.
“This binding term sheet lays the foundation for what we anticipate will become a long-standing and positive partnership between BLK Auto and Pure Hydrogen that will see the rapid take-up of hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric buses and trucks in Australia, and on the East Coast in particular.
“We look forward to further finalising these negotiations over the coming period with a view to bringing our aligned objectives to fruition in 2022.”
Pure Hydrogen managing director Scott Brown said: “We are pleased to be partnering with BLK Auto. This binding term sheet is just the first step in both parties building out a hydrogen eco-system and providing our potential customers the greatest range of vehicles possible together with hydrogen fuel.”
“BLK Auto is well known for its hydrogen fuel cell buses and we have a great opportunity to leverage that expertise for the benefit of both companies,” he explained.
HYZON HOME
Secondly, under its RACV agreement, Hyzon Motors – in conjunction with the RACV at its Noble Park location – will develop a purpose-built facility including corporate offices, showroom, assembly warehousing and workshop, which is expected to generate more than 100 localised engineering and manufacturing jobs by 2025 – and with hundreds more indirect jobs expected through the supply chain.
The partnership also includes an order of hydrogen-powered vehicles for RACV-owned subsidiary Nationwide Group, the first order of such vehicles for a towing company in Australia. These will be trialled by Nationwide Group on arrival, which is scheduled for end 2022.
Managing director for Hyzon Motors in Australia and New Zealand John Edgley says the announcement was exciting news not just for the local economy, but for Australia’s energy transition aspirations and the manufacturing jobs of the future.
“We are focused on generating new jobs, new manufacturing and technology facilities, and a fundamentally new industry in Australia and New Zealand, that will underpin a sustainable future for the region,” Edgley said.
“With governments across Australia and New Zealand shifting their focus towards hydrogen as a cost-competitive and zero-emission fuel source, Hyzon stands ready to support and partner on key projects and initiatives.
MINING COACHES
“Hyzon has already hit the ground running in the region, with scheduled 2022 deliveries including coaches to Fortescue Metals in Western Australia, prime movers to Coregas in NSW and TR Group in New Zealand, road train prime movers to Ark Energy in Queensland and the Hymax GSL garbage trucks with Superior Pak across the region.
“The opportunity to partner and work with the RACV, a trusted brand, across the home, motoring, mobility, energy and leisure sectors is an exciting prospect for our business.”
RACV CEO Neil Taylor says the partnership with Hyzon Motors aligned with the company’s objective to support a cleaner energy future.
“RACV is a strong supporter of the transition to a cleaner energy future. We have a purchase power agreement with Snowy Hydro which covers all our company owned sites in Victoria, are a major and fast-growing player in the Solar Installation Market via RACV Solar and have other investments in Cleaner Energy such as Chargefox, Restart EV and have installed Solar Power at all RACV Victorian Resorts,” Taylor says.
“We see building a bigger portfolio of Cleaner Energy assets and businesses as a strong part of RACV’s future, both within Victoria and across Australia.
Photography: courtesy BLK Auto + Hyzon Motors