Toyota Motor North America and Hyroad Energy will deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 commercial trucks in Southern California under a definitive agreement announced May 4, 2026. The companies revealed the partnership at ACT Expo in Las Vegas, where a Hyroad truck is on display at Toyota’s booth. Hyroad will supply the vehicles along with maintenance, data, and software services to support Toyota’s logistics operations, while Toyota will provide hydrogen fuel through refueling infrastructure currently under development in Ontario, California. The deployment ranks among the largest commercial hydrogen truck commitments announced in the United States to date.
Highlights
- 40 Class 8 fuel cell trucks deployed to support Toyota logistics operations in Southern California
- Hyroad to provide vehicles, maintenance, fleet management software, and data services under bundled commercial structure
- Toyota to supply hydrogen via dedicated refueling infrastructure under development in Ontario, California
- Announcement made at ACT Expo 2026, running May 4–7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center
Inside the Commercial Framework
The agreement bundles vehicles, software, and fuel supply under a single commercial structure — an approach the companies position as a response to one of the recurring obstacles for alternative-fuel commercial vehicles. Hyroad operates as an OEM-agnostic full-service provider rather than a manufacturer, assembling trucks from multiple sources alongside maintenance, parts, and fleet management software. The model echoes a pay-per-mile structure Hyroad has previously promoted to fleet customers reluctant to take on the upfront capital cost of zero-emission equipment.
For Toyota, the deployment continues a hydrogen strategy executed largely through Southern California operational footprints. The company’s North American Parts Center in Ontario already serves as the anchor for its hydrogen Class 8 fleet rollout, with routes extending to the Port of Long Beach and southward toward San Diego. The Hyroad agreement adds 40 trucks to that operating envelope. Toyota’s hydrogen vision unveiled at the 2025 ACT Expo outlined the same Ontario hub and introduced the company’s Gen 3 fuel cell system, which Toyota has said offers a 20 percent efficiency and power gain over the prior generation.
Truck Specifications and Operating Profile
A Class 8 fuel cell truck of the type Hyroad is deploying carries up to 70 kg of hydrogen onboard, equivalent in fuel mass to roughly 12 Toyota Mirai sedans. Refueling takes 15 to 20 minutes — comparable to diesel — with an approximate driving range of up to 500 miles between fills. The only local emission during operation is water vapor.
That refueling and range profile is the operational case that hydrogen advocates have leaned on against battery-electric Class 8 alternatives, which generally require significantly longer charging windows and impose payload tradeoffs at long range. Independent third-party performance data on the specific Hyroad-supplied trucks under Toyota fleet duty cycles has not been disclosed.
Hyroad’s Nikola-Sourced Foundation
Hyroad’s vehicle inventory traces directly to Nikola Corporation’s collapse. In August 2025, Hyroad acquired hydrogen fuel cell trucks, spare parts, software platforms, and IP assets from Nikola’s bankruptcy auction, with the current release citing 117 trucks acquired. Hyroad subsequently extended its services to existing Nikola truck owners, offering maintenance, parts, repair, and fleet management software.
The Toyota deployment is among the most visible commercial commitments Hyroad has secured since the Nikola acquisition, and it pairs ex-Nikola hardware with a buyer that has 30-plus years of internal fuel cell development experience.
Executive Statements
“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 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.”
Both companies are exhibiting at booth #2767 during ACT Expo 2026.
What to Know
How many hydrogen fuel cell trucks will Toyota and Hyroad deploy?
The agreement covers 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 commercial trucks operating in Southern California. The deployment is anchored around Toyota’s North American Parts Center in Ontario, California, where the company is also developing dedicated hydrogen refueling infrastructure to support the fleet.
What is the driving range of a hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 truck?
A Class 8 fuel cell truck of the type Hyroad supplies has an approximate driving range of up to 500 miles per fill, carrying up to 70 kg of onboard hydrogen. Refueling takes 15 to 20 minutes, comparable to diesel. The only local emission during operation is water vapor.
Where did Hyroad’s hydrogen trucks come from?
Hyroad acquired its core fleet of 117 hydrogen fuel cell trucks, plus spare parts, software platforms, and intellectual property, from Nikola Corporation’s bankruptcy auction in August 2025. The company has since expanded into maintenance, repair, parts supply, and fleet management software for existing Nikola truck owners.
When and where was the Toyota–Hyroad deployment announced?
The agreement was announced May 4, 2026, at ACT Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, North America’s largest fleet technology event. The conference runs May 4–7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with both companies exhibiting at booth #2767.
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