Which US automotive companies are working on Hydrogen fuel cell
Discover how major US automakers are developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Learn about United States’s hydrogen strategy, and the future of zero-emission mobility.
Aqib
November 06, 2025
A hydrogen fuel cell is a device that converts hydrogen gas (H₂) directly into electricity, heat, and water. It uses the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxidizing agent like oxygen for producing the electricity with zero emission of carbon. This production of electricity is continues which can be use for vehicles. In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) Hydrogen is stored in high pressure tanks and then fuel cell use to converts that in to electricity which powers an electric motor.
Several US automakers are moving towards hydrogen fuel cell technology for sustainable transport especially in heavy-duty, commercial and vehicle segments. They are supported by federal clean energy initiatives and growing private investment.
Below are the United States companies who are working on Hydrogen fuel cell
In 1966, General Motors (GM) introduced the Electrovan which was the world’s first hydrogen powered vehicle.
Today, with their vision of zero emissions, GM continues to invest in hydrogen. In 2024 by joint venture with Honda, GM’s hydrogen systems are now mass produced which is knows as Fuel Cell System Manufacturing LLC (FCSM). Their target capacity is roughly two thousands fuel cell modules per year by aroung 2025. These modules will be used in different applications like passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, construction equipment and stationary power systems. This marking the first large-scale fuel cell manufacturing operation in the United States.
Through GM Defense division, they developed military prototypes such as Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 which are hydrogen powered and used for silent operation, reduced heat signatures and extended range.
In June 2021 Wabtec Corporation and General Motors announced about their collaboration for development and commercialisation of GM’s Ultium battery technology and HYDROTEC hydrogen fuel cell systems Wabtec locomotives. Their goal Is to make transition of rail industry to zero emission locomotives with the the combination of battery and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.
Ford Motor Company is exploring hydrogen fuel cell technology. Ford is working on hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicle use cases. According to their 2023 Integrated Sustainability and Financial Report, Ford is expecting for hydrogen fuel cell (and other alternative fuels) vehicles to play a meaningful role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2023 Ford announces three-year UK based hydrogen fuel cell e-transit trial. In which Ford will lead to test hydrogen fuel cell technology applied to E Transit light commercial vehicle. Over three year project (to 2025) a low volume test fleet of eight fuel cell Ford E-Transits will run for six months which will provide insights into total cost of owning and operating a large van, and also for increasing range and opening hours to match diesel powered equivalent and without needing to charge. This trail helps to finding whether fuel cell tech can meet for larger commercial vehicle operations using hydrogen fuel cells while providing zero emission.
For heavy duty the company has fuel cell modules and systems. They have installed thousands of fuel cell units.
In March 2025, Cummins announced that they and key partners completes hydrogen internal combustion engine technology project for commercial vehicles. 6.7 litre engine delivers more than 99% reduction in talipipe carbon emissions by using zero carbon hydrogen fuel and ultra low NOx compared to current diesel engine standard (Euro VI).
From US departement of Enegry, Cummins had received multiple awards for hydrogen fuel cell powertrains heavy duty trucks and buses.
Plug power focusess on hydrogen fuel cell systems and green hydrogen production, storage and delivery. According to their investor Plug Power has deployed tens of thousands of fuel cell systems globally.
Their main products are proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells that convert hydrogen into electricity and produce only water and heat as by products.
Their infrastructue technologies includes GenFuel and Green hydrogen production.
Genfuel: Plug provides hydrogen delivery to customer sites based on customer use. For storing hydrogen at large or small sites GenFuel play roles for design, construction and maintenance for all components that are required for this purpose.
Green Hydrogen production: Plug Power builds electrolyzers for spliting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. They operate hydrogen plants to provide clean hydrogen to their customers.
They also Partnered with Amazon and Walmart to scale hydrogen use in logistics. To expand green hydrogen production globally they are working with SK Group (South Korea) and Acciona (Spain).
HYLA is a dedicated energy brand introduced by Nikola for hydrogen production, distribution and refueling infrastructure for their trucks.
In January 2024 they publish a blog in which they say Nikola produced 42 and wholesaled 35 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) of class 8 via the HYLA brand in 2023. They also say themselves ‘a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions’. Nikola’s FCEV features a range of up to 500 miles and an estimated fueling time as low as 20 minutes.*
*Refueling time estimate depends on the characteristics of the hydrogen fueling location, including fueling hardware and software protocol, fuel amount, and fueling conditions. Actual refueling times will vary.
In second quarter of 2024 For customers of North America, Nikola Wholesales 72 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks of class 8 via HYLA brand. Nikola wholesaled 112 hydrogen fuel cell trucks for the first half of 2024.
