Attendees at an event held in Phoenix were given a preview of Nikola’s ‘mobile fueling trailer’ as part of a demonstration showcasing its strengths as an integrated truck and energy company.
Also announced on the day was the launch of a new global brand, HYLA, to encompass the company’s energy products for producing, distributing and dispensing hydrogen to fuel its zero-emissions trucks.
More than 300 government, supplier, energy, media and fleet representatives were on site for the announcement at Nikola’s US headquarters in Phoenix, which highlighted the progress made by Nikola’s energy and truck businesses.
“Nikola is the only company that is successfully integrating a revolutionary new product, the hydrogen fuel cell truck, and the full hydrogen energy infrastructure supply chain under one roof,” said Nikola CEO and President Michael Lohscheller.
“The unveiling of our Nikola Tre fuel cell truck and flexible mobile fueling trailer demonstrates a real and sustainable competitive advantage for our customers and are significant proof points that we are accomplishing what we set out to achieve.”
The startup electric truck maker said it had plans fir 60 hydrogen stations by 2026.
The first announced hydrogen stations will be in California in Colton, Ontario, and a location servicing the Port of Long Beach. California is a launch market for Nikola and these stations intend to support key customers to help advance the state’s efforts to decarbonise the transport sector.
Nikola, whose founder Trevor Milton was convinced on federal fraud charges last October, is sending 15 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks to California in Q4, as part of fulfilling a long-standing order of up to 800 zero-emission vehicles for Anheuser-Busch.
The Nikola Tre FCEV is expected, at an estimated 500 miles, to have among the longest ranges of all commercially available zero tailpipe emission Class 8 tractors while realising weight savings when compared to battery-electric Class 8 trucks with a similar range.
According to the OEM, the Nikola Tre FCEV is well-suited for a variety of applications ranging from drayage and intermodal to metro-regional truckload and specialised hauling use cases.
Fuelling time, according to Nikola, is less than 20 minutes. The claim is based on expected technology improvements.
“The HYLA brand represents Nikola’s hydrogen-focused energy business by supporting our fuel cell electric vehicles and those of other OEMs,” said Carey Mendes, President, Nikola Energy. “Hydrogen energy is the catalyst for the HYLA brand and serves as a forward-looking solution for our customers to help them achieve their sustainability goals and dramatically reduce the overall carbon emissions in the transportation sector.”
Under the HYLA brand, Nikola is developing an eventual projected access of up to 300 metric-tons per day (TPD) of hydrogen.
This supply is expected to be supported by previously announced projects like the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub, starting with 30 metric-tons in the first phase, and up to 150 metric-TPD of hydrogen in future phases in accordance with demand created from Nikola’s trucks in the Southwest region.
