Nikola desires to make use of cell hydrogen stations to assist its fuel-cell vans.
The corporate on Wednesday that it had developed a trailer-mounted cell fueling rig that may ship hydrogen at 10,000 psi. It plans to show the rig publicly subsequent week. The primary unit “has accomplished commissioning and testing and has been launched for market operation,” in response to a Nikola press launch.
Nikola Tre
Extra models are scheduled for completion later within the first quarter of this yr, forming a part of a “cell fueler program” to complement everlasting hydrogen stations. This program will use a mixture of Nikola-owned cell hydrogen stations and a few owned by third events, in response to the corporate.
Nikola beforehand mentioned it plans 60 hydrogen stations by 2026, aided partly by authorities incentives, however this will likely assist it get vans out within the meantime and meet their wants. It is searching for pure gasoline to energy some fueling hubs and vans.
Nikola Tre hydrogen fuel-cell truck
This community will present hydrogen for patrons working the Nikola Tre, a Class 8 fuel-cell semi truck with a claimed vary of 500 miles, which Nikola plans to construct at a brand new manufacturing unit in Coolidge, Arizona. Per an settlement introduced in 2021, these U.S.-assembled vans will use fuel-cell elements from Bosch. Nikola additionally has a three way partnership with truck maker Iveco to assemble Tre semis at that agency’s Ulm, Germany, plant.
Nikola has refocused on fuel-cell business vans not too long ago after some mission creep below founder Trevor Milton, who was charged with securities fraud in 2021 for allegedly deceptive buyers. Milton pursued a pickup truck referred to as the Badger and a partnership with Common Motors, however Nikola has since walked again many of those initiatives.