Another type of vehicle will be added to the growing roster of energy-efficient transportation methods, with Nikola Motor Company's forthcoming Nikola One, a hydrogen-powered long haul semi-truck unveiled Thursday, Dec. 1, at its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Early concepts of an energy-efficient semi-truck were first announced by the company back in May, and it looks the plan, by some measure, has finally materialized and is set to move forward once and for all, with 2020 as the company's expected operation date.
"[T]oday we proudly show off the most advanced semi-truck ever built," said Trevor Milton, chief executive and founder of Nikola Motor Company.
Nikola One
Nikola One is a class 8 — giant trucks usually for transportation of goods — truck that utilizes a fully electric drivetrain powered by high-density lithium batteries. The truck will get its energy from a hydrogen fuel cell which supplies the Nikola One with 800 to 1,200 miles while delivering over 1,000 horsepower and 2,000-foot-pound of torque, which is almost double the capacity found in current semi-trucks.
That amount of range, according to Engadget, could get goods transported at a distance spanning from San Francisco to Cheyenne, Wyoming or something equivalent, in a full tank of gas. Initially, the company will offer a 72-month leasing program to provide unlimited hydrogen fuel, a warranty period and a scheduled maintenance service.
The vehicle features a large screen on the dash, similar to the setup found on Tesla cars. Milton also said that the trucks will feature a navigation system that determines the most efficient route from point A to B.
For now, the company hasn't issued any word on the truck's pricing, but Milton said that information will be announced soon.
An Effort To Reduce Dependence On Fossil Fuels
The company is currently discussing with several states in the country to determine who it'll partner with to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in America, commit to inroads in green energy and attempt to innovate the state of the trucking industry. In the first half of 2017, Nikola aims to determine the exact location of the manufacturing facility.
"Nikola will build a world-class advanced manufacturing facility which will create thousands of new jobs," said Milton.
Nikola also announced its plans for a hydrogen fueling station network across the United States and Canada, with the construction of the said stations beginning in January 2018.
Before it could offload Nikola One vehicles on the road, the company must first ensure that its plans to create a hydrogen fueling station network materialize, since no matter how impressive its rigs will be, the Nikola One wouldn't earn the attention it needs without first setting proper fueling stations in place across the country.
