Development and Demonstration of a Mobile Fuel Cell Generator (MFCG)

RockeTruck, Inc.

Recipient

Escondido, CA

Recipient Location

40th

Senate District

76th

Assembly District

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$2,097,553

Amount Spent

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Active

Project Status

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Project Update

In 2025, the second-generation prototype was completed, along with a separate fueling trailer capable of carrying additional hydrogen for long-duration operation. RockeTruck completed lab testing of the prototype and initiated field testing and demonstration in the Southern California Edison (SCE) service territory. Two 48-hour duration tests were completed at the Port of Long Beach in January 2026, with an average of 35 kilowatts of power produced, fulfilling a key project objective. The second protype generator for this agreement is near complete and expected to be finished in early 2026. Following lab testing the second prototype will be field tested in the San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) service territory.

The Issue

Today mobile generators use fossil fuels to generate electricity, producing greenhouse gasses and criteria pollutants that are harmful to the people and communities using them. As wildfire risk increases and utilities employ public safety power shutoffs more frequently, there is a growing need for clean, renewable backup power solutions as an alternative to polluting fossil generators. This project develops and demonstrates a mobile fuel cell generator (MFCG), which does not produce any carbon or toxic emissions, to generate electricity in a transportable configuration that can be rapidly deployed to regions impacted by power outages caused by wildfires or other emergencies.

Project Innovation

The principal innovation of this project is to integrate an automotive fuel cell, high density lithium-ion batteries, and advanced power electronics into a compact system that can deliver a large amount of power in a highly transportable package. The generator system is small enough to be carried in the bed of a standard pickup truck for short-duration power generating needs, such as powering tools at a construction site or lights at an outdoor concert venue for a few hours. A large hydrogen fuel supply can be transported along with the generator to provide higher amounts of power for much longer

Project Goals

Design & assemble 2 integrated Mobile Fuel Cell Generator prototypes capable of providing 120 kW peak & 35 kW for 48 hours

Demonstrate and validate two prototype MFCG generators through 6 fields tests across 4 seasons.

Project Benefits

This project will develop a mobile, renewable backup generator capable of delivering high power for extended periods with no direct emissions. This will deliver public benefits by enabling the charging of critical electrical devices such as cell phones and oxygen generators during grid power outages caused by wildfires or Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. Widespread adoption of the MFCG for such purposes has the potential to significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases.

Consumer Appeal

The mobile fuel cell generator will have a similar form factor to diesel and other fossil fuel generators, while eliminating noxious fumes, greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing noise during operation.

Economic Development

RockeTruck is seeking to build on this project to develop one or more commercial product offerings that would be assembled in California with nearly all parts manufactured in the U.S.

Environmental Sustainability

The MFCG will protect the health of users and communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from backup generation during outages as it has zero direct emissions and can be powered with renewably produced hydrogen. This is a more sustainable alternative than mobile generators using diesel, propane, or other fossil fuels.

Reliability

Mobile renewable generators can be used to provide backup power to customers and critical facilities during outages such as PSPS events, helping mitigate the impacts of outages.