New age truck maker, Nikola has confirmed it will present the US truck market with both a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) power plant for both its heavy-duty Nikola Two and Nikola Tre prime mover models.
The US based zero emission truck maker and Tesla’s key truck rival says it will have 500kWh, 750kWh and 1mWh power options for its battery powered trucks aimed at short-haul operations, while the Hydrogen Fuel Cell trucks will target longer haul work.
Nikola says that its smaller, Euro style cab-over Tre will be aimed at European, Asian and Australian markets , however its arrival down under is likely be later rather than sooner with the company saying it will be in the medium- to long-term.
Nikola says the the Tre will produce 2,712Nm of torque, between 500 to 1,000hp and a range of between 500 and 1,000km.
“One size does not fill all and both replace internal combustion engine and emissions,” according to Nikola as the company gears up for a formal market presentation in mid-April and underlines a growing acceptance that both BEV and HFC will be needed to meet all road transport tasks.
“So far, Fuel Cell can’t be beaten for long haul and BEV is good option for short haul,” said Nikola says in a recent facebook post.
“The World needs both, ICE (Internal Combustion Engines) is enemy, not hydrogen or BEV, although each have advantages.”
Nikola says that a BEV semi running at 36 tonnes will run at about 2.25 kWh per mile in” real weather and normal hills on routes”, with 1nWh good for about 600km.
It notes that only 90 per cent of the battery is useable and that in cold weather, “you get 500km / 1Mwh” for a nine tonne vehicle.
On HFCs, it sees 80kg of hydrogen producing 11-16km per kg and using the same 2.25kWh per mile as its BEV.
“Fuel cell system and truck complete weight 6.8-7.7 tonne so about 1.36-2.27 tonne less than the BEV,” it added.
