Nikola Announces All-Electric Semi Truck: Up To 1,000-kWh Battery

Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Feb 9, 2019 at 9:33am ET

Add InsideEVs as a preferred source in Google

Comment

Nikola recognizes the advantages of BEVs. Will skip FCVs at some point?

Nikola Motor Company surprisingly announced that it intends to offer also an all-electric version of its hydrogen fuel cell trucks - Nikola Two and Nikola Tre (European version), while the biggest Nikola One will remain FCV only.

Those new BEVs are to be presented at the Nikola World even later this year with three battery options:

500 kWh
750 kWh
1,000 kWh (1 MWh)

Nikola news

Nikola Presents European Version Of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck

Nikola explains that it's still bullish about hydrogen for long hauls, but in case of short hauls, it sees the advantage of BEVs. At least in theory, it seems that the all-electric version will be in a competitive position to the Tesla Semi.

The main question is whether Nikola doubts in its hydrogen concept (as many of us do)? It's not too late to switch to BEVs.

"H2 is 5,000 lbs lighter than BEV and is cheaper for long haul applications even with H2 costs. BEV is for inner cities and non weight sensitive applications. Nikola is not phasing our hydrogen at all, we will see 50:1 more hydrogen orders but some applications BEV works great."

The 1 MWh battery pack is expected to give Nikola Two a range of 400 miles (640 km) or 300 miles (480 km) in cold weather. Nikola says also that such a big battery will weight half of the truck's weight.

"1) BEV @ 80,000 lbs. uses ~ 2.25 kWh per mile in real weather and normal hills on routes. 1MWh gets about 400 miles. Only 90% battery is useable. In cold weather, you get 300 miles / 1Mwh. Takes 69,000 "21700" cells @ 68grams = 1MWh. 10.5k weight in cells. 20k truck weight2) Fuel cell 80 kg H2 gets 7-10 miles per kg and uses same 2.25 kWh per mile as BEV. Fuel cell weight 15k -17k so about 3k – 5k pounds less than BEV. Fuel Cell can't be beat long haul and BEV is good option for short haul. World needs both. ICE is enemy, not hydrogen or BEV"

https://twitter.com/nikolamotor/status/1093921697990729729

https://twitter.com/nikolamotor/status/1093956284888444928

What do you think?

View

Comments

https://twitter.com/nikolamotor/status/1093999128760147968

https://twitter.com/nikolamotor/status/1093999457450917888

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The InsideEVs team

Share this Story