Hyzon’s hydrogen trucks take out the trash in California
Refuse trucks don’t usually make headlines – but when they start running on hydrogen, it’s worth paying attention.
Hyzon Motors have just landed an order for two hydrogen-powered refuse trucks from South San Francisco Scavenger Company, a family-run waste management business that’s been cleaning up the Bay Area since 1914.
Hyzon CEO Parker Meeks said: “We are proud to receive this order from a company that has been keeping communities cleaner for over a century and look forward to delivering our proven hydrogen-powered technology to meet the operational demands for the South San Francisco Scavenger Company”.
After a few months of successful trials and testing, the company decided to swap their legacy diesel fumes for hydrogen’s clean, zero-emission punchy power.
Built for the toughest jobs
Bin lorries (or garbage trucks depending on which side of the Atlantic you live) have one of the hardest jobs in transport – constant stopping and starting, around-the-clock usage, power-hungry ancillary equipment, heavy loads, and long routes.
It’s a brutal environment that’s kept diesel firmly in the driver’s seat for decades. But Hyzon’s ‘Class 8’, 200kW hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks are built for this exact challenge.
They can haul trash across at least 125 miles, lift 1,300 bins in a single shift, and still have enough juice to hit the transfer station – all while delivering up to 300% better fuel efficiency than a typical diesel truck.
The trucks are designed from the ground up, with Hyzon working with refuse-truck pros New Way Trucks to design something ready for real-world waste collection.
A century of service, now running on hydrogen
South San Francisco Scavenger Company company boss Doug Button said: “As a company dedicated to sustainability and innovation, we are excited to integrate Hyzon’s hydrogen-powered trucks into our fleet
“This partnership reflects our commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies that reduce emissions while maintaining the performance standards our community relies upon”.
This new order follows Hyzon’s first-ever sale of a hydrogen refuse truck only back in October to GreenWaste. Two more trucks might not sound like much, but in an industry dominated by diesel, it’s a positive sign that hydrogen is gaining some traction.
Why hydrogen makes sense here
Refuse trucks need serious power and fast refuelling. Batteries might work for small delivery vans or short journeys, but garbage trucks have to lift heavy loads and run long routes without downtime.
That’s where hydrogen shines: quick refuelling, long-range, zero emissions – all with the pulling power of diesel.
South San Francisco Scavenger Company’s hydrogen trucks will soon be rolling through the streets, lifting bins and proving that even the dirtiest jobs can be done cleanly.
