The HYLA brand of the Nikola Corporation has revealed that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) has awarded the company – and its sponsor the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) – with a U$41.9m grant through the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) to establish a total of six heavy-duty hydrogen refueling stations in Southern California.

The grant application was sponsored by Caltrans, who will work in collaboration with Nikola to build the hydrogen refueling stations.

Having secured the grant, the duo will establish hydrogen refueling stations in strategic locations along California freight corridors within the South Coast Air Quality Management District, San Diego County Air Pollution Control District and the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. Each station will be capable of facilitating the refueling of between 80 to 100 trucks each day, and each site will be designed to scale up over time.

It is anticipated that the construction of the refueling stations will enhance community health due to lower carbon emissions, in addition to improving noise pollution in the aforementioned areas.

“Nikola is thrilled to receive this grant from the CTC,” said Carey Mendes, president, Nikola Energy. “This award, in collaboration with Caltrans, will allow us to accelerate the deployment of zero-emissions hydrogen refueling infrastructure, which is vital for the successful launch our hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks in July.”