About Those Hydrogen-Fueled Trucks

At the Bay Door…or Still Down the Road?

The hydrogen conversation in commercial trucking has shifted from “when” to “who’s left standing.”

Once a crowded field of competitors racing toward zero-emission freight, the hydrogen fuel cell truck sector in the United States has contracted dramatically in 2025. Nikola filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February. Hyzon closed its doors permanently the day before. Both companies had spent months searching for buyers or additional funding. Neither found either.

That leaves Hyundai standing alone as the only active supplier of Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell tractors in North America. Legacy manufacturers delayed their hydrogen programs indefinitely, citing infrastructure gaps and profitability concerns.

The irony? Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the known universe. Yet turning that abundance into practical trucking fuel remains expensive and complicated.

The appeal is obvious. Hydrogen fuel cell trucks can match diesel’s range and refueling time — critical factors for long-haul operations (battery electric vehicles still struggle with weight and charging delays). For routes exceeding 500 miles, hydrogen starts making sense, on paper.

Here’s the rub: hydrogen trucks need hydrogen stations. California aimed for 15 to 20 public refueling stations by 2025 to support zero-emission long-haul freight. And that’s for one state. Scaling that nationally translates into billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Meanwhile, federal support for alternative fuel infrastructure has been reduced.

The technology itself works. Hyundai’s XCIENT trucks are logging real miles globally. The challenge isn’t the engineering. It’s the ecosystem. Even proven technology struggles to gain traction without widespread refueling infrastructure and stable financial support.

For commercial trucking, hydrogen represents a promising option for specific applications, particularly heavy-haul, long-distance freight. But the recent industry shake-up proves that hydrogen won’t replace diesel overnight.

While we don’t predict the future, here’s a decent guess: expect hydrogen to carve out a niche in specialized corridors first, supported by substantial investment. For most carriers, the hydrogen transition is still a few years and a lot of infrastructure dollars away.