Nikola Hydrogen-Electric Design Called Trucking ‘Game Changer’
This story appears in the Dec. 12 print edition of Transport Topics.
SALT LAKE CITY — Preparations are underway for the 2020 delivery of Nikola One, the hydrogen-electric Class 8 produced by Nikola Motor Co.
Trucking executives who attended the unveiling of Nikola One here Dec. 1 said the technology has the potential to change the industry.
“This could be the game changer we’re all looking for,” said Max Fuller, CEO of U.S. Xpress Enterprises. “This truck can go 1,200 miles. Electric trucks today are 120 miles.”
Vladimir Nikolaychuk, president of Shipping Experts Inc., based in Sacramento, California, has reserved three tractors.
Scott Romans, CEO of Romans Motor Freight Inc., based in Omaha, Nebraska, has reserved 25 Nikola One tractors and expects to see a benefit from decreased maintenance.
The vehicle initially will be available for lease only, ranging from $5,000 to $7,000 a month, Nikola Motor Co. founder and CEO Trevor Milton said. The lease will run 72 months, or 1 million miles, and cover all maintenance expenses, including windshield wiper and tire replacements.
Maggie Williams, a driver for Phoenix-based Swift Transportation and a former owner-operator, has reserved one. “I did the math right away. My last lease was $2,500 a month, but I was spending $6,000 to $7,000 a month on fuel,” she said.
Nikola One uses high-density lithium batteries and weighs nearly 2,000 pounds less than diesel-powered tractors. It also has a center of gravity 2 to 3 feet lower than a traditional Class 8 tractor because the batteries, electric motors and a fuel cell sit below the frame rail, Milton said. It also will offer zero emissions, decreased maintenance, more power and improved safety.
Meritor Inc. created an air-spring suspension design for the tractor. Because the suspension can act as one with the cab, there are a lot less vibration, wheel travel and wheel damage, said Adam Sadik, an engineer for Meritor. The suspension provides 8 inches of independent wheel travel.
The air springs mount on the cab in a way that makes an efficient load path, plus the seal on the air springs is more robust than the standard bead clip, which should reduce air leaks, he said.
On the rear suspension, there is a direct load path from the trailer to the wheels. “It works well with their electric architecture where the motors and gear boxes are suspended in the frame,” Sadik said.
Kevin Lynk, an engineer for Nikola, said the truck has two computer-controlled electric motors per axle, so acceleration is instant and stopping distance is reduced.
Milton said a Nikola One can maintain 65 mph on steep hills (6% grade).
He said the truck will look slightly different from the prototype unveiled: two doors as opposed to one and a frame rail at the height of the tires. He also expects to improve the cab’s aerodynamics by 5% and install more interior storage as well as refrigerated drawers that pull out from the bunk. Customers also will have the option of a bumper system and a headache rack that will minimally affect the aerodynamics.
“We will do one more version and then put in real-life testing with fleets,” Milton said, adding that fleet tests will run about a year and independent safety testing will be nationwide.
The first 5,000 vehicles will be built by Fitzgerald Glider Kits, based in Byrdstown, Tennessee, while Nikola moves forward on its $1 billion manufacturing facility. It will select a location next year.
Steve Jennes, chief designer for Nikola, said because there isn’t a diesel engine in the front, Nikola was able to move the mass between the frame rails and move the driver forward. That created 30% more space in the cab and allowed for more comforts inside, including a microwave and two 50-inch bunks.
U.S. Xpress’ Fuller told Transport Topics the Nikola One cab is like a small apartment for drivers. “The comfort will be far superior to what we have now,” he said, declining to divulge how many his company reserved.
U.S. Xpress, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ranks No. 19 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in the United States and Canada.
Twelve cameras provide surround vision to improve safety. The tractor also will use the cameras for facial recognition to unlock the doors and make in-cab adjustments based on driver preferences, such as seat position, temperature and volume. “Our whole idea is to give drivers every hour of driving they can get,” Milton said.
He indicated about 70% of reservations have come from fleets and about 30% from owner-operators, but he declined to identify them. But Milton said Nikola has secured nearly $4 billion in future orders and received more than 8,000 refundable $1,500 deposits.
Aside from leasing, Nikola plans to offer a purchase option and make Ryder System Inc. the exclusive nationwide sales and service warranty distributor, Milton said. Ryder Supply Chain Solutions, based in Miami, ranks No. 13 on the for-hire TT100.
Thompson Machinery was an early investor in Nikola and will cover Tennessee and Mississippi, but there will be no additional distributors.
Milton declined to comment on additional investors but told TT “most are private, very wealthy investors.” Worthington Industries Inc. owns about 9.5% of Nikola.
