J.B. Hunt to purchase zero-emission trucks

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On Monday, J.B. Hunt Transport Services said it would be purchasing 13 Nikola zero-emission Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks to use for their operations.

The trucks, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., a J.B. Hunt Transport Services subsidiary, said, would help the company focus on its sustainability efforts and reduce the intensity of its carbon emissions.

“It’s important for us to be at the forefront of new technologies and innovative solutions that have the potential to change the way we move freight,” Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of contract services at J.B. Hunt, said. “These zero-emission trucks from Nikola advance our progress towards achieving our ambitious goal to reduce carbon emission intensity through viable solutions.”

The initial order will include 10 battery-electric and three hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, the company said, with the first vehicles expected for delivery in August. The trucks will be located at facilities serving the greater Los Angeles and Phoenix areas. Nikola’s hydrogen arm, HYLA, will supply the hydrogen and fueling infrastructure.

“We are thrilled that the industry leader for supply-chain solutions has chosen our Nikola Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks to use for their operations,” Nikola CEO Michael Lohscheller, said. “Their purchase and use of these zero-emissions trucks are a testament to the hard work of our engineering, development and manufacturing teams, who created a robust, highly advanced truck lineup, as well as our HYLA hydrogen infrastructure solutions, which are designed to benefit companies such as J.B. Hunt.”

J.B. Hunt said its goal is to reduction carbon emission intensity 32 percent by 2034, and that incorporating alternative powered equipment into the fleet is a key element to reaching that goal.