GSCW chat recap: Hyzon Motors CEO on US readiness for fuel cells

Finding an alternative for diesel efficiency is not easy

Hyzon Motors CEO Craig Knight tells FreightWaves Detroit Bureau Chief Alan Adler that China is about five years ahead of Western nations in using fuel cells in commercial vehicle.

This fireside chat recap is from Day 4 of FreightWaves Global Supply Chain Week. Day 4 focuses on automotive.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: The democratization of fuel cells for commercial vehicles  

DETAILS: Hyzon Motors, a carveout of Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, took over General Motors’ former fuel cell labs near Rochester, New York, to help North American and European markets catch up with China and other Asian nations in the use of hydrogen fuel cells for commercial vehicles.

SPEAKER: Craig Knight, CEO of Hyzon Motors

BIO: Craig Knight is co-founder and CEO of Hyzon Motors. He has more than 25 years of experience in the chemical sector, including as a co-founder of Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies in Singapore in 2003. He has lived and worked around the world in pursuing the decarbonization of transportation.

KEY QUOTES FROM CRAIG KNIGHT

“We have chosen to set up this business in commercial mobility because we believe we can have a very significant impact on these pretty challenging-to-abate sectors that contribute a lot of emissions.”

“We’re going after some of these vehicle scenarios that are very difficult to take off diesel because there are two or more driver shifts in a day. It’s just very difficult to find a way to make these vehicles zero emission.”

“We’re focused heavily on back-to-base operations in the near term. Back-to-base operations 

mean you only need one point of hydrogen availability for a hundred trucks or 200 buses. That’s a model that really works.”

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Fraud & Security

Freight Fraud Symposium

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

May 20, 2026
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH
Register Now
AI & Technology

Supply Chain AI Symposium

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

July 15, 2026
The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL
Register Now
Rail & Policy

Future of Rail Symposium

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

July 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Fraud & Security Freight Fraud Symposium May 20 • Cleveland, OH

Double brokering. AI deepfakes. Identity theft. Freight fraud is an existential threat to the industry. Get ahead of it.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame • Cleveland, OH Register Now
AI & Technology Supply Chain AI Symposium Jul 15 • Chicago, IL

Past the hype. Join operators, founders, and enterprise leaders figuring out how to deploy AI in supply chain.

The Old Post Office • Chicago, IL Register Now
Rail & Policy Future of Rail Symposium Jul 28 • Chattanooga, TN

Reshoring is rewriting freight demand. Join shippers, rail executives, and government officials to shape the next decade.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Alan Adler

Alan Adler is an award-winning journalist who worked for The Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press. He also spent two decades in domestic and international media relations and executive communications with General Motors.