SoCalGas to Decarbonize Fleet with Hyzon Motors

SoCalGas and Hyzon Motors will partner on a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric utility truck.

September 1, 2021

SoCalGas to Decarbonize Fleet with Hyzon Motors — SoCalGas and Hyzon Motors will partner on a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric utility truck.
*Photo:* Hyzon Motors

2 min to read

Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) and Hyzon Motors, a supplier of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles, announced Sept. 1 their plans to partner on a hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric utility truck. The partnership supports SoCalGas' NetZero 2045 climate commitment, which includes replacing its over-the-road fleet with electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, achieving a 100% zero emissions fleet by 2035.

As part of the partnership, Hyzon will deliver a Class 3 commercial service body utility truck to SoCalGas by 2022. The truck is expected to reach a maximum power of 200 kilowatts, with a range of 300 miles and will be built on the existing chassis OEM used by SoCalGas, minimizing the updates needed for operations, servicing, and training.

In April, SoCalGas also announced plans to convert 200 Ford F-250 service pick-up trucks to run on renewable natural gas (RNG) – a renewable form of energy produced from a variety of organic waste streams that will allow SoCalGas to start reducing its carbon footprint while alternatives are developed. With the addition of these trucks, nearly 40% of SoCalGas' fleet will be operating on clean fuels.

Known for its heavy-duty Class 8 vehicles and fuel cell power, the partnership with SoCalGas also marks Hyzon's entrance into the light truck vehicle class sector. Hyzon is uniquely suited to build vehicles for these commercial applications because of its experience producing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles used by companies in rugged environments, such as the Australian Outback.

"The fuel cell does not care what it is powering," said Hyzon CEO Craig Knight. "Since Hyzon's fuel cell can power up to 154-ton trucks, we can adapt it to support the performance needs of SoCalGas' fleet."

Hydrogen, which is converted to electricity through a fuel cell with no tailpipe emissions, powers the vehicle through fuel cells that are compact, powerful, and uniquely suited for long haul and high utilization back-to-base transport. Hydrogen fuel tanks can be refilled as fast as diesel tanks, a distinct advantage over batteries that typically take at least twice as long to recharge.

Topics:Utility Fleets Hyzon Motors Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles SoCalGas Utility Fleet

More Utility Fleet

Image promoting the Anterix Active Ecosystem with 900 MHz connectivity for utility work in remote areas. The image features power transmission lines at sunset alongside a rugged Panasonic Toughbook laptop displaying a Windows interface.

Utility Fleet•May 19, 2026

Panasonic Connect & Anterix Strengthen Connectivity Options for Utilities and Field Workers

The Panasonic Connect Toughbook 56 is the first Toughbook to earn the AnterixActive badge, which means it can connect to and operate on Anterix’s 900 MHz network even in the most remote locations.

Cover of a whitepaper titled “The Hidden Costs of Departmentally Assigned Vehicles on Your Fleet” featuring a black fleet vehicle driving on a road at sunset. Subheadline reads: “Discover how your fleet can reduce costs and minimize risk by implementing vehicle sharing.” The document focuses on fleet optimization, vehicle sharing, cost reduction, utilization tracking, and risk management for fleet operations.

Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools

Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.

Utility Fleet•April 24, 2026

Streamlight Launches Portable Scene Light III & LiteBox 1Million

Streamlight has launched its Portable Scene Light III (PSL III), which delivers up to 10,000 lumens, and the LiteBox 1Million, a long-range search light that delivers one million candela.

Utility Fleet•by News/Media Release•April 14, 2026

EUFMC 2026 Matches Fleet Registration Record

EUFMC 2026 registration has surpassed last year’s fleet registration record, and the event will deliver a variety of topics during its educational program, Driving Safety, Sustainability & Technical Expertise.

Utility Fleet•by Wayne Parham•April 1, 2026

What to Expect from PALFINGER in 2026

Work Truck visited with Ismael Daneluz, vice president of sales and service for PALFINGER North America, to discuss where the company is headed in 2026. In this video, he discusses new products and a strategic growth outlook.

Boosting Last-Mile Fleet Uptime, Safety, and Value with AI Vehicle Inspections

AI-powered inspections are transforming last-mile fleets by replacing manual checks with highly accurate automated scans that detect defects in seconds. By giving fleet operations visibility into the daily condition of their vehicles, you can identify trends over the vehicle’s lifecycle that enable improved procurement decisions, route management, driver training and accountability.

Rubber mat on a construction site with a small tractor driving onto it.

Utility Fleet•March 4, 2026

DICA Launches Complete Engineered Ground Protection Line

DICA’s new Ranger HD, Defender MD, and Titan mat systems deliver scalable, high-performance ground protection solutions. All are being exhibited this week at CONEXPO 2026.

Tractor with backhoe working along a powerline with logos inset for Huddig and Terex.

Utility Fleet•by News/Media Release•March 4, 2026

Terex Services & Huddig Enter a Distribution Agreement for Sales and Service

Through a new partnership, Huddig customers in the United States will gain access to an expanded sales, service and aftermarket infrastructure, leveraging Terex Services’ branch locations.

Report: How AI Is Reshaping Fleet and Field Service Operations

AI is moving beyond the back office and into the driver’s seat of work truck and field service operations. New research shows fleets are using AI to improve predictive maintenance, optimize dispatch and routing, reduce downtime, and boost technician productivity, while also tackling challenges around workforce adoption and data readiness. Discover the trends, technologies, and real-world use cases shaping the future of connected work truck fleets.

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.

View All →