Hiringa, in partnership with Waitomo Group and TR Group from Australia, has opened three green hydrogen fuelling stations. A fourth is underway and they are all within the major freight zone of New Zealand, the upper NI.
Known as Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand, the new network is located strategically to serve 95 per cent of heavy traffic routes. They are situated between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. Refuelling takes 10-20 minutes. Transport Minister, Simeon Brown, was on hand to launch the venture.
Coincidentally, another facility, New Zealand’s first fast refuelling green hydrogen station, was also opened by Halcyon recently in Wiri.
The Hiringa stations are in Wiri, Te Rapa, and Palmerston North, while the fourth in the $25m venture is being constructed in Tauranga.
Andrew Clennet, the CEO of Hiringa Energy said that this represents the beginning of heavy traffic’s transition to zero-emissions fuel alternatives.
The green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy. It costs around 15 per cent more than a litre of diesel.
Waitomo supplies the refuelling forecourts while TR Group is responsible for selling the hydrogen-powered trucks. They cost roughly $900,000 apiece.
The advantage hydrogen-powered trucks have over electric alternatives is the faster refuelling time, minutes versus hours.
