Thanks to $12 million from the Advanced Technology Demonstration and Pilot Projects and $29 million in match funding from multiple project partners, the NorCAL Zero-Emission Regional and Drayage Operations with Fuel Cell Electric Trucks (NorCAL Zero) Project will support the largest commercial deployment of Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in the country. These zero-emission trucks will improve the air quality of communities between Oakland and Bakersfield by displacing diesel-fueled trucks that emit harmful air pollutants.

“Diesel pollution is the most significant toxic air pollutant in the Bay Area, and the deployment of these electric trucks will help improve air quality across the region, but especially in communities near the Port of Oakland,” said Jack Broadbent, Executive Officer of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. “The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is excited to support clean transportation solutions that replace diesel engines and have a real impact on public health.”

As part of this project, the Center for Transportation and the Environment and partners will deploy 30 Hyundai XCIENT Class 8 Fuel Cell Electric Trucks, which have a range of 500 miles per tank of hydrogen fuel. Using a portion of these funds provided by the California Energy Commission, the project will also establish a high-capacity liquid hydrogen fueling station that will allow back-to-back, 15-minute refueling for more than 50 trucks at a time.

“I am thrilled that we were able to work together to obtain this vital funding to bring zero-emission trucks to our community,” said Rebecca Kaplan, Vice Mayor of Oakland and member of the board of the Alameda County Transportation Commission. “This will help reduce pollution and reduce the health impacts that have been suffered here for too long. Hydrogen fuel cells can provide long-haul trucking with zero emissions to protect our community.”