Walmart Canada adds Nikola's hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric semi-truck to fleet

FILE PHOTO: A Nikola Hydrogen Fuel Cell EV is displayed during the press day preview of the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. REUTERS/David Swanson/File Photo

(Reuters) - Nikola said it has delivered a hydrogen fuel cell powered electric semi-truck to Walmart Canada, making it the first major retailer in the country to add it to its fleet.

Reuters reported in April Tesla Semi trucks were in short supply for customers, including Walmart and Pepsi, and the companies were turning to rival electric-truck makers for their fleets.

In June 2022, Walmart said it was expanding transportation pilots with manufacturers of electric, hydrogen and natural gas-powered vehicles as part of its 2040 goal to achieve zero emissions across its global operations, including its fleet of roughly 10,000 tractors and 80,000 trailers.

Nikola said in May it delivered 75 of its hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the first two quarters of production and completed the delivery of its reworked battery truck at the end of the first quarter.

(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum and Harshita Mary Varghese; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)