Savage and Symbio North America Announce Strategic Collaboration to Kick off the Rollout of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles for Drayage

Temecula, CA – 4/28/2025 – Savage Companies (Savage) and Symbio North America (Symbio) will seal a key collaboration on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) at the 2025 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo (ACT Expo), starting today in Anaheim, California.  

The collaboration between Symbio and Savage marks a milestone in the decarbonization of the drayage sector with the introduction of a fully developed end-to-end hydrogen fuel cell powertrain solution, engineered by Symbio for seamless integration into Savage’s trucks.  

Revolutionizing drayage: the lightest, most compact and cost-effective hydrogen fuel cell driveline

This hydrogen powertrain solution relies on two key components to meet the performance demands of the drayage market. To support this, Symbio has partnered with one of its shareholders, a specialist in cutting-edge generation hydrogen storage, FORVIA. 

Symbio’s multi-system fuel cell delivers a combined power output of 300 kW. Its compact and modular design features multiple StackPackTM 75 kW units, that enhance both integration and space efficiency. Combined with FORVIA’s hydrogen 70MPa XL-Tanks which provides maximized storage capacity of 34 kg of hydrogen, it delivers a comprehensive solution that supports full-shift operation without the need for refuelling. The entire H2 powertrain maintains a lightweight and compact design adapted to every truck chassis offering a revolutionary zero-emission alternative to diesel powertrains without compromising on payload capacity – an advantage over other clean energy solutions.  

Beyond payload and storage performance, the solution delivers operational benefits comparable to Diesel trucks: rapid and safe hydrogen refuelling in under 15 minutes, which enables 24/7 fleet operation with seamless back-to-back shifts with maximized efficiency and uptime. Additionally, the lower maintenance requirements of hydrogen fuel cell powertrains further reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO). 

This next-generation hydrogen fuel cell powertrain delivers exactly what drayage fleets need – striking the ideal balance of weight, cost and performance while maintaining diesel-equivalent operational benefits. 

Key areas of collaboration 

• Fleet transition and expansion: Development of a 4×2 FCEV driveline prototype, based on a Mack Anthem chassis. This sets the stage for broader fleet decarbonization and supports the transition of Savage’s 80+ California-based trucks to ZEVs. 
• Technology development and deployment: Advance Symbio’s end-to-end hydrogen fuel cell driveline solutions to enable active and seamless integration into vehicles operated by Savage.  
• Developing affordable technology for hydrogen market scale up: Providing a low TCO solution thanks to optimized hydrogen fuel cell driveline solution and lower maintenance requirements. 
• Operational data sharing: Savage will provide valuable performance feedback to optimize Symbio’s vehicle solutions, ensuring efficiency and reliability in real-world operations. 

Leading the way on advancing zero-emission FCEV fleet solution 

Savage, a North American logistics leader, drives sustainable transportation through major infrastructure investments and a growing zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) fleet. This partnership will provide opportunities to evaluate further adoption of FCEV zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) across its fleet.  

“We’re excited about the impact this new technology will have on the industry and are proud to be one of its early adopters,” said Tyler Flynn, Sr. Director of Projects at Savage. “Partnering with Symbio allows us to continue taking steps to make our fleet more sustainable while ensuring it remains efficient.” 

Symbio, a global leader in fuel cell technology, supplying fuel cell systems for OEMs, is strongly committed to deploying zero-emission mobility. Operating from its facility in Temecula, California, Symbio is repowering commercial vehicles as part of its North American offering, enabling pioneering fleet operators access hydrogen fuel cell solutions today. 

 “We are proud to partner with Savage in accelerating the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Our collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to zero-emission transportation and will serve as a model for fleets transitioning to hydrogen with competitive fuel cell solutions,” said Rick Breunesse, Business Development Director at Symbio North America.  

About Savage Companies — Established in 1946, Savage is a private company based in Midvale, Utah that owns and operates three businesses: Savage Infrastructure, Bartlett and Texon. With more than 4,200 team members in nearly 200 locations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia, our companies are integral to the global supply chain, helping our customers and partners feed the world and power our lives. 

About Symbio — Symbio is a frontrunner in zero-emission hydrogen mobility – a leading technological and industrial partner of sustainable mobility pioneers. The group combines industrial leadership, breakthrough innovation, and entrepreneurial agility to customize solutions and support its clients’ acceleration in rolling out their clean mobility roadmaps. Symbio operates in Europe, with its SymphonHy Gigafactory, and North America, with its Temecula, CA facility. With 30 years of experience, 10 million kilometers driven, and Europe’s largest, IATF 16949-certified fuel cells gigafactory, Symbio designs and manufactures a wide range of StackPack™ (pre-integrated and pre-validated systems) addressing all power, durability, and autonomy needs, for on-road and off-road hydrogen powered mobility. Symbio is an equal-share joint venture between FORVIA, Michelin, and Stellantis. Beyond 2030, the group’s ambition is to produce 200,000 StackPack™ per year to accelerate the deployment of clean, health and environment-friendly, mobility. For more information, visit www.symbio.one and LinkedIn.