Dive Brief:
- Cyclum NextGen Travel Centers will build its first renewable fuel truck and vehicle refueling center on a 26-acre site in Tulare, California, the company announced in late December.
- The location, situated near Highway 99, is expected to offer a variety of fuels, including renewable diesel, ethanol-based gasoline, renewable compressed natural gas, hydrogen and electric vehicle charging powered by green electricity.
- This is one of the first steps for Cyclum, which named its top leadership in late November, toward its plans to open 400 sites in the coming years. The company is helmed by industry veterans with experience working for mainstays like 7-Eleven and BP.
Dive Insight:
Cyclum’s plans to focus on opening stores on the West Coast and California make particular sense for its green-energy ethos. California is one of a handful of states that has passed laws targeting traditional internal combustion engines, with a goal of having all new cars sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
“This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future for transportation,” said Cyclum CEO Brian Profitt in the announcement.
Tulare will conduct environmental assessments of the site and has earmarked up to $750,000 for remediation and demolition work, after which Cyclym will take on any additional costs.
Cyclum’s leaders said late last year that they intend to “reimagine the idea of a travel center,” and noted that sites will have features like in-store seating, fenced-in dog runs, playgrounds, truck washes and a selection of fresh produce, artisan goods and snacks.
According to the company’s website, it’s also looking to build truck stops near Sacramento, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno and Bakersfield, among other areas. Cyclum is also targeting western Washington and Oregon, southern Arizona and Tijuana, Mexico.
