CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 255,646	$ 291,724	$ 344,065
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Change in fair value of derivative warrants		(40)	(1,039)
Selling, general and administrative	89,906	68,516	73,444
Depreciation and amortization	45,184	47,682	49,625
Total operating expenses	350,694	301,568	334,137
Operating income (loss)	(95,048)	(9,844)	9,928
Interest expense	(4,430)	(7,348)	(7,574)
Interest income	1,082	1,345	2,437
Other income, net	905	3,025	1,990
Loss from equity method investments	(430)	(161)	(119)
Gain from sale of certain assets of subsidiary	3,885	1,063	7,455
Gain from formation of equity method investment		700
Income (loss) before income taxes	(94,036)	(11,220)	14,117
Income tax expense	(119)	(309)	(858)
Net income (loss)	(94,155)	(11,529)	13,259
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,009	1,665	7,162
Net income (loss) attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp.	$ (93,146)	$ (9,864)	$ 20,421
Net loss attributable to Clean Energy Fuels Corp. per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.44)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.10
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.44)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.10
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	213,118,694	200,657,912	204,573,287
Diluted (in shares)	213,118,694	200,657,912	205,987,509
Product revenue
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 213,133	$ 251,954	$ 298,469
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales	189,600	161,705	185,557
Service revenue
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenue	42,513	39,770	45,596
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Cost of sales	$ 26,004	$ 23,705	$ 26,550