Related: Nikola Chooses Hydrogen Fuel Cell to Power Emissions-Free Truck
Toyota Eyeing Heavy-Duty Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Technology
Toyota is exploring using hydrogen fuel cell technology in heavy-duty vehicles to create a zero emissions solution for the commercial trucking industry.

Image courtesy of Toyota

Toyota is exploring using hydrogen fuel-cell technology in heavy-duty vehicles to create a zero-emissions solution for the commercial trucking industry.
The company announced that it will conduct a study of a heavy-duty truck sized fuel cell vehicle and the technology’s scalability. But it provided no additional details of its plan, saying only that more details would be announced in the coming months.
Toyota currently offers a commercially available hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with the Toyota Mirai. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen with oxygen to create a chemical reaction and are emissions-free, producing only water as a byproduct of the reaction.
Toyota is not the first company to explore hydrogen fuel cell use in heavy-duty trucks. Notably, startup Nikola Motor Company announced that its forthcoming Nikola One Class 8 Truck would be powered by the technology. Nikola has already taken reservations for the truck and is set to unveil the model in December.
Nikola company claims an operating range of 800 to 1,200 miles on a single fill up. Part of Nikola’s strategy involves building out a network of over 50 hydrogen stations for customers by 2020.
More Fuel Smarts

DTNA Software Update Gives Truckers More Time Before DEF Derates Take Effect
The changes reflect EPA guidance aimed at reducing downtime caused by emissions-system faults while maintaining compliance requirements.
Read More →
New Agentic Predictive Maintenance Report Demonstrates How Degraded Aftertreatment Systems Waste Fuel
Questar analyzed a large mixed-class fleet and discovered it was wasting as much as $30 in fuel per vehicle, per day, because of mechanically degraded aftertreatment systems.
Read More →
New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results
Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.
Read More →
Lessons Learned About Alternative Fuels: Start Small, Stay Flexible
Practical advice on adopting alternative fuels and ZEVs from HDT's 2026 Top Green Fleets, from renewable diesel and natural gas to electric trucks.
Read More →
Kempower Adds Flex EV Charger to Help Support Transition to Megawatt Charging
The Kempower Mega Satellite Flex has both a CCS and MCS connector, allowing operators to serve both types of heavy-duty vehicles.
Read More →
Hino Adds Electric Class 6/7 Truck
Hino says the Le Series is an important step in the company's efforts to reduce environmental impact and support its customers’ sustainability goals.
Read More →
Can Multi-Speed EV Transmissions Solve Heavy Trucking’s Biggest Electric-Vehicle Problems?
A startup called Sigma Powertrain believes purpose-built multi-speed gearboxes can boost efficiency, reduce battery size and improve gradeability for heavy-duty battery-electric trucks.
Read More →
Hendrickson Debuts Electraax E-Axle for Medium-Duty Trucks
Developed with Driventic, Hendrickson's new integrated e-axle is designed to improve efficiency, reduce weight, and extend range in Class 6-7 EV applications.
Read More →
50 Ways Fleets Can Cut Fuel Costs Now — Without Buying New Trucks
Fuel savings don’t come from one big change. They come from dozens of small ones. Here’s how leading fleets are stacking gains across drivers, routing, maintenance, and more.
Read More →
Top Green Fleets 2026: How Fleets Are Reducing Emissions in the Real World
What works in sustainable trucking today? Heavy Duty Trucking's Top Green Fleets are finding practical ways to cut fuel use, reduce emissions, and keep freight moving.
Read More →
