Check out our latest interview with Hydrolux co-founder and CEO Friedrich Dehem-Lemelin as he joins our cohort at WCEF in Brussels!
What motivated you and your co-founders to start Hydrolux?
I have a love for nature and being in the woods, as well as cars and transportation. So I wanted to bridge these two passions and start Hydrolux with my co-founders who I have been friends with since high school. We wanted to have a positive impact on the environment and the transportation sector. To create the biggest impact possible, we decided to go into the trucking industry. The industry in Quebec includes 180 thousand trucks on the roads and emits around 12% of Quebec’s whole GHG emissions while the almost 7 million cars on the province’s roads only emits slightly more GHG emissions. So the amount of GHG emission per truck compared to cars is astronomical. That is why we really wanted to target the truck industry, and we even targeted the most emitting trucks – the ones that drive long distances per day, carrying heavy loads that are basically running 24/7.
To decarbonize those vehicles, we need to procure hydrogen powered trucks, namely PACCAR. They do not exist in Quebec yet, because there are no stations for them to re-fuel. That is why we began developing hydrogen fueling stations.
What are some challenges you are facing while scaling your startup?
One of our biggest roadblocks has been regulation challenges, as there are no hydrogen fueling stations in Quebec right now. We need to secure 10 megawatts of production on-site, which is something that has never been done in the world before – having that much production dedicated to only trucks. There is one station for cars, but not trucks in Quebec.
Since this is all very new, the regulations are not ready to accommodate our stations. So we need to do a lot of education and sometimes propose modifications to zoning laws in different municipalities.
How did the Dobson Centre play a role in Hydrolux as we know it today?
Our startup is like our baby. Before we came to the Dobson Centre, we were crawling, but once we joined, we learned how to walk. They provided us with all the right tools and knowledge to really navigate the startup ecosystem. We ultimately learned how to run a company, which helped us create a good foundation. Many startups have failed because of a lack of foundation, so joining the Dobson Centre has set us up to tackle the many challenges that lie ahead.
Who would be an ideal partner or collaborator for Hydrolux?
We have found our ideal partner, the French Multinational Vinci Concession.
We are building a joint venture with them, a new entity. All our partial refueling stations, the first seven, will be within that entity. The Vinci Concession is a global leader in mobility infrastructure and is an investment brand for long-term projects. We are excited to have access to the construction group's knowledge and expertise since they have experience building hydrogen refueling stations elsewhere in the world.
What are you most excited about for WCEF in Brussels?
Since we are working with French companies with a large presence in Europe, it will be a great opportunity to gain exposure to other European companies in Brussels. Renewable energy and the circular economy are much more advanced in Europe, so we want to bring takeaways and inspiration back to Quebec.
One example of a circular economic action we are trying to implement is thermal waste recovery. One of the main problems of working with hydrogen-powered fueling systems is the amount of heat wasted. So, we are trying to find a way to reuse the excessive heat and wasted energy created by our hydrogen production process.
Hydrolux
Hydrolux, a leading Quebec-based company, is revolutionizing the heavy transport sector by developing green hydrogen fuelling stations, offering an eco-friendly and efficient alternative to traditional diesel trucks. This forward-thinking initiative promises a sustainable economy, significantly reducing the carbon footprint and paving the way for a prosperous, carbon-free future. With a strategically deployed refuelling infrastructure and close collaboration with local and international experts, Hydrolux is leading the way in innovation and sustainability in heavy goods transportation. By adopting hydrogen in partnership with Hydrolux, carriers not only gain access to reliable and cutting-edge energy solutions, but also the opportunity to position themselves as leaders in the energy transition within their industry.
