Savage and Symbio North America Announce the Commissioning of the First Hydrogen-Electric Fuel Cell Truck for Drayage

Savage Companies and Symbio North America have reached an important milestone in their hydrogen mobility partnership: the first 4×2 hydrogen fuel-cell electric drayage truck has been assembled, commissioned, and is now preparing to enter service.

The vehicle was revealed less than a year after the companies announced their collaboration at ACT Expo 2025. The truck has already surpassed initial performance expectations and achieved an impressively low curb weight of about 17,000 pounds, which increases its payload capacity for port and regional logistics operations. Once deployed, Savage will operate what is believed to be the lightest zero-emission Class 8 tractor in its category. The Symbio Class 8 truck establishes a new standard for payload capability, efficiency, and operational availability while maintaining a lower overall mass.

A new benchmark for zero-emission heavy trucks

The finished vehicle demonstrates the capabilities of Symbio’s next-generation hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain. The system uses a 150 kW peak-power multi-StackPack™ architecture, engineered to handle the high utilization rates and continuous duty cycles typical in drayage operations.

Combined with FORVIA’s 70 MPa XL hydrogen storage tanks holding 34 kg of hydrogen, the truck can complete a full working shift without refueling. Key performance features include:

• 17,000-lb curb weight, allowing significantly higher payload than other zero-emission truck options

• Diesel-like power and gradeability

• Hydrogen refueling in less than 15 minutes

• Compact, modular powertrain design that enables flexible fleet integration

From concept to working prototype

The completion of the 4×2 FCEV prototype represents a major step in the partners’ effort to advance zero-emission drayage transport. The collaboration has produced several concrete outcomes:

• Prototype development and validation: the first Mack Anthem–based fuel-cell truck equipped with Symbio’s full hydrogen driveline has been built and delivered.

• Operational deployment: Savage will begin testing the truck in real drayage operations, including demanding 24/7/365 service conditions.

• Cost-efficient fuel-cell integration: joint engineering efforts produced a lightweight, modular, and maintainable system aimed at achieving competitive total cost of ownership.

• Data-driven improvements: Savage will collect operational data and performance metrics to support further optimization of Symbio’s technology.

Expanding hydrogen in commercial fleets

Savage is continuing to expand its zero-emission transport strategy by investing in advanced clean-energy technologies. The launch of this truck represents the first step toward a broader transition plan, which aims to gradually convert more than 70 drayage trucks in California to zero-emission solutions.