Emission Reduction Alberta funds the Alberta Zero Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration (AZETEC) project, led by the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) and collaborated with technology developers, carriers and government partners to test zero-emission heavy-duty transport under the real-world operating conditions of Alberta's freight corridors.

The project deploys two heavy-duty semi-trucks, designed on a Freightliner Cascadia platform and integrated with Ballard Power Systems fuel cells, Hydrogenics systems, and Dana's electric drive technology. Each truck is equipped with ~60-70 kg of onboard compressed hydrogen storage at 350 bar, enabling a driving range of at least 450 kilometres per fueling cycle while hauling payloads of 64 tonnes.

To support these operations, AZETEC has invested in the deployment of large-scale hydrogen fueling infrastructure, capable of refuelling heavy-duty trucks at commercial speeds. This infrastructure is designed not only to support the demonstration trucks but also to act as a foundation for future hydrogen freight adoption.

The project is funded with more than $15 million from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), along with significant in-kind contributions from industry.
AZETEC is expected to deliver major environmental benefits, with each truck projected to displace diesel and reduce CO2 emissions by over 2,000 tonnes annually. Beyond emissions reductions, the project is generating practical data on costs, fueling, maintenance and operational integration, providing a roadmap for scaling zero-emission freight fleets in Canada.