Toyota to Build Hydrogen Fueling Station in Southern California and Deploy Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Truck Logistics
Toyota plans to build its first hydrogen fueling station at its North American Parts Center in Ontario, Southern California, and partner with Hyroad Energy to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks for port-to-dealer vehicle transportation and internal parts logistics. The fueling station is expected to be completed in early 2027 and will be open to non-Toyota customers at that time. This initiative is part of Toyota's 2050 zero-emission goal, aiming to use commercial vehicles as a platform for large-scale validation.
Toyota Motor Corporation announced plans to build a hydrogen refueling station at its North American Parts Center in Southern California, and to use hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks provided by Hyroad Energy for vehicle and parts transportation operations.
"We are building the company's first-ever hydrogen refueling station," Jason Zahorik, general manager of Toyota Hydrogen Solutions, told Trucking Dive.
The two companies unveiled the development plan for the property in Ontario, California, during the ACT Expo event this Monday. Zahorik said the station is expected to be operational in early 2027. According to theCalifornia Business Guide, construction for such hydrogen projects typically takes about 9 months, while planning and building review averages about 10.5 months.
"This station will also be open to non-Toyota fuel cell customers," Zahorik added.
This move reflects Toyota's commitment to decarbonization, which includeseliminating emissions from its manufacturing sites by 2050. The company stated that it views commercial trucking as "a key proving ground for scaling this ecosystem."
Before the fixed station is completed, mobile refueling units will help Toyota kick off hydrogen transportation operations early.
Under the partnership, Hyroad will provide 40 heavy-duty trucks, and Toyota's logistics team will assist with vehicle transportation from ports to dealers, as well as internal parts movement. Zahorik explained this.
According to the press release, hydrogen fuel cell trucks take about 15 to 20 minutes to refuel and can achieve a range of up to approximately 500 miles. Unlike diesel semi-trucks, the only local emission during operation is water vapor.
"I believe that as these infrastructures are established and deployment scales up, it will lay the foundation for future growth in hydrogen transportation," Hyroad founder and CEO Dmitry Serov told Trucking Dive.
Texas-based Hyroad operates on a "truck-as-a-service" model. The company acquiredmore than 100 hydrogen fuel cell trucks, intellectual property, and other assets from Nikola Corp. last year, after Nikola had filed forChapter 11 bankruptcy protection。
"We provide trucks, maintenance, and refueling services, all bundled into a leasing package," Serov said. "Customers don't need to bear upfront capital pressure."