24 June 2019 TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERINGALL IMAGES: RYAN GEHMO
n-highway Class 6-8 trucks are Nikola’s main business and
engineering focus, but the Arizona-based startup is ex-
panding its product range to include powersports and mili-
tary sectors to demonstrate its technology’s adaptability.
In addition to the Nikola Two and Tre hydrogen fuel-cell trucks for
North America and Europe, respectively, the manufacturer revealed a
battery-electric all-terrain vehicle, an autonomous-capable military
vehicle and a personal-watercraft concept to about 2,000 attendees
of the Nikola World opening event in Scottsdale, Ariz., near the com-
pany’s Phoenix headquarters.
Nikola plans to offer battery-electric variants of its two day-cab
semi-trucks, but CEO Trevor Milton expects hydrogen fuel cells to
account for at least 80% of its business.
Nikola’s hydrogen-electric trucks have about 3,000 kWh of on-
board energy, nearly three times that of Tesla’s truck, according to
Milton. “We need to be able to go long distances; that’s where hydro-
gen really shines.” But hydrogen does not fit every application—thus,
battery-electric will be offered for shorter, urban routes.
The hydrogen trucks cover a range between 500 and 1,200 miles
(805 and 1,930 km), depending upon load.
Commenting on his electric-truck competitor, Milton said, “We
want Tesla to succeed. There’s enough room for everyone to win. If
they fail, it hurts us dramatically.”
A hydrogen truck weighs about 5,000 to 7,000 lb less than a bat-
tery-electric version with similar specs, Milton said. “In the trucking
world, every pound is worth 50 cents a load. If you’re doing a loadNikola reveals Two and Tre fuel-cell trucks and its H 2 fueling roadmap, as well as
battery-electric military and powersports vehicles.
by Ryan GehmHYDROGEN
BOOM!
from LA to Las Vegas, you can add another $2,500
worth of freight with our [hydrogen] truck compared
to an electric one,” he said.
This equation helps to combat critics who question
the economics of hydrogen because of its lower effi-
ciency, he said. Hydrogen is converted at a 30-40% loss.
The Nikola One and Two hydrogen trucks are on target
for production launch in 2022, according to Milton, who
arrived on stage pulled by the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Anheuser-Busch has ordered 800 Class 8 zero-emission
trucks from Nikola as part of its sustainability strategy.
The Tre’s launch in Europe will follow in 2023.
Nikola has essentially stopped taking orders for its
trucks because the current backlog already will take
several years to fulfill. “We can sell more trucks than
we could ever build for the next 20 years,” Milton said.
The initial trucks produced are reserved for Nikola’s
risk-sharing partner customers.
Milton also took the occasion to announce a new
investment drive, with the goal of raising an additional
$1.5 billion.Technology-laden trucks
Nikola’s three heavy-duty trucks—which also includes
the One, the extended sleeper-cab version revealed inHydrogen fuel-cell electric
Nikola Two reveal at the Nikola
World event in Scottsdale, Ariz.