Hyroad Energy and Toyota Announce Strategic Collaboration to Deploy Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks
TECHNOLOGY
Hyroad Energy, one of the largest U.S. hydrogen truck rollouts signals growing momentum for zero-tailpipe-emission freight.
Hyroad Energy, a pioneer in hydrogen-powered transportation solutions, has announced a definitive agreement with Toyota Motor North America to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 commercial trucks in Southern California. The announcement was made at ACT Expo 2026, North America's largest fleet technology event, where a Hyroad truck is on display at Toyota's booth.
Integrated Ecosystem Approach
Under the agreement, Hyroad will provide trucks, maintenance, data, and software services to support Toyota's logistics operations. Toyota will supply hydrogen fuel through its own refueling infrastructure, currently under development in Ontario, California. The two companies are bringing together the interconnected pieces that a functioning hydrogen trucking ecosystem requires including vehicles, software, and fuel supply under a single commercial framework.
The partnership addresses a persistent challenge in alternative fuel adoption: the chicken-and-egg problem of vehicles without infrastructure and infrastructure without vehicles. By aligning vehicle deployment with fuel supply under commercial terms, both companies are demonstrating a path forward that doesn't require either party to wait for the other.
"Accelerating the hydrogen economy requires collaboration, and Toyota is proud to work with Hyroad to move the heavy-duty sector forward," said Jason Zahorik, General Manager, Toyota Hydrogen Solutions. "By bringing the critical elements together, we're demonstrating how fuel cells create tangible value across supply chains while advancing a foundational pillar of the hydrogen economy. With hydrogen, we share a vision for cleaner, more powerful and more energy independent mobility."
Toyota's Hydrogen Commitment
For Toyota, this is one piece of a much larger hydrogen commitment that spans more than 30 years of experience in fuel cell development. The company is investing significantly in the hydrogen value chain, including fuel cell development and refueling infrastructure, and sees commercial trucking as a critical proving ground for that ecosystem at scale. For instance, in keeping supply and demand moving at a rapid pace, a fuel cell Class 8 truck is able to take up to 70 kilograms of hydrogen onboard, about the same as 12 Toyota Mirai sedans.
Like a diesel semi-truck, a fuel cell Class 8 takes about 15 to 20 minutes to fill and has an approximate driving range of up to 500 miles between fill-ups. Unlike a diesel truck, however, the only local emission from a hydrogen-powered truck is water vapor.
Hyroad's Full-Service Model
Hyroad's full-service model covers the truck, maintenance, and fleet management software under a bundled commercial structure, removing the operational complexity that has historically slowed adoption of alternative-fuel commercial vehicles. As an OEM-agnostic operator rather than a manufacturer, Hyroad's role is to assemble the pieces including vehicles from multiple sources, hydrogen supply, truck maintenance, and software into a solution fleets can actually use.
In August 2025, Hyroad acquired 117 hydrogen fuel cell trucks, spare parts, software platforms, and IP assets from Nikola Corporation's bankruptcy auction. Thereafter, Hyroad announced an expansion of its service offerings to include comprehensive maintenance and support services for existing Nikola truck owners, software solutions for fleet management, repair services, and parts supply.
"Toyota has done exactly what great allies do, they've brought genuine hydrogen expertise to the table and made thoughtful, strategic decisions," said Dmitry Serov, Founder and CEO of Hyroad Energy. "They're not waiting for someone else to build this ecosystem. They're investing in it directly, and that's what makes this meaningful. When fueling, vehicles, software and operational commitment all come together, hydrogen trucking works."
Strategic Positioning and Market Context
Hyroad's collaboration with Toyota is a featured element of Toyota Hydrogen Solutions' presence at ACT Expo, running May 4-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Both companies are present at booth 2767. The deployment represents one of the largest commercial hydrogen truck deployments in the United States, signaling a new phase for zero-tailpipe-emission freight.
The timing reflects broader market movement toward commercial hydrogen applications. While passenger vehicle electrification has advanced through battery-electric technology, heavy-duty trucking faces different constraints around weight, range, and refueling time that make hydrogen fuel cells a viable alternative path to decarbonization.
About Hyroad Energy
Hyroad Energy delivers cutting-edge, zero-emission Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell trucks designed to meet the needs of fleets while reducing their carbon footprint. Through its innovative pay-per-mile model, Hyroad eliminates the complexity and upfront costs traditionally associated with deploying zero-emission trucks. As a pioneer in hydrogen-powered transportation, Hyroad Energy is leading the charge toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Additional information is available at www.hyroadenergy.com.
About Toyota
Toyota has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through its Toyota and Lexus brands, plus its nearly 1,500 dealerships. Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at its 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota's plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
About Toyota Hydrogen Headquarters
Toyota Hydrogen Headquarters is the lead office in North America for the development, engineering, commercialization, and business operations of Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Based in Gardena, California, H2HQ works collaboratively with Toyota's R&D offices in Michigan and Texas, as well as business units in Japan and internationally, to create zero-emissions fuel cell technologies that enable energy independence, innovation, and the movement of people, goods, energy, and information. Additional information is available at Toyota.com/h2solutions.