Honda and Toyota shocked the Montreal auto show last week by announcing a partnership in developing a hydrogen-refueling infrastructure in Quebec. La Belle Province makes a perfect venue for this unexpected cooperation because of its abundance of hydro-powered electricity (of which much is required to electrolyze hydrogen from water) and its California-inspired push to zero-emissions vehicles.

Nonetheless, the two are normally the archest of rivals so the joint announcement — by Martin Gilbert, Toyota Canada’s director of corporate strategy and innovation and Jean-Marc Leclerc, VP of sales and marketing for Honda Canada — in this multi-fuel initiative was surprise to the assembled media.

To us, what’s most exciting is that the station will use an on-site electrolyzer to turn Quebec’s abundant hydroelectricity into clean, sustainable hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles,” said Gilbert with Leclerc adding that “this investment will create an environment where we can continue to test our products and educate Canadians on the vast potential of hydrogen-powered vehicles today knowing that mass adoption could take some time.”

Honda and Toyota are, of course, hoping to promote their fuel cell-powered offerings, the Honda Clarity and Toyota’s Mirai, which, of course, lack any commercial outlets where they can be refueled. The first station — a cooperation between Hydrogenics (who will produce the actual electrolyzer) and Harnois Energies (one of the largest chains of gas stations in Quebec) — will be in Quebec City. Another is already planned for Montreal and each will produce about 200 kilograms of hydrogen — enough for about H2 50 fill-ups — per day.

In other Toyota alternative fuel news, Kenworth and Toyota announced that they will jointly develop 10 hydrogen-powered tractors-trailers for use at the Port of Los Angeles. The new FCEV semis will feature Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology built into Kenworth’s T680 trucks and will transport cargo as far away as Hueneme and Merced.

Funding to the tune of US$41 million from the California Air Resources Bureau (CARB) will help finance the Zero-Emission and Near Zero-Emission Freight Facilities.