CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 344,065	$ 346,419	$ 341,599
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Inventory valuation provision			13,158
Change in fair value of derivative warrants	(1,039)	543	(46)
Selling, general and administrative	73,444	77,207	95,715
Depreciation and amortization	49,625	51,850	56,614
Asset impairments and other charges			67,934
Total operating expenses	334,137	342,524	476,046
Operating income (loss)	9,928	3,895	(134,447)
Interest expense	(7,574)	(15,924)	(17,751)
Interest income	2,437	2,857	1,497
Other income (expense), net	1,990	(566)	139
Loss from equity method investments	(119)	(2,723)	(131)
Gain from extinguishment of debt, net			3,195
Gain from sale of certain assets of subsidiary	7,455	4,782	70,658
Loss from formation of equity method investment		(1,163)	(6,465)
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,117	(8,842)	(83,305)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(858)	(341)	1,914
Net income (loss)	13,259	(9,183)	(81,391)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	7,162	5,393	2,154
Net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp.	$ 20,421	$ (3,790)	$ (79,237)
Income (loss) per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.02)	$ (0.53)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.02)	$ (0.53)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	204,573,287	180,655,435	150,430,239
Diluted (in shares)	205,987,509	180,655,435	150,430,239
Product revenue
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 298,469	$ 307,839	$ 287,292
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales	185,557	194,509	216,413
Service revenue
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenue	45,596	38,580	54,307
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales	$ 26,550	$ 18,415	$ 26,258