Nikola launches first hydrogen fuel cell truck mobile fueller

Nikola's mobile fueller programme includes its own mobile fuellers as well as a number of third party mobile fuellers, which will provide Nikola's customers with a variety of flexible fuelling options.

Nikola President and CEO, Michael Lohscheller, said: "Nikola has spent the greater part of two years developing a flexible mobile fuelling solution which cools and compresses hydrogen to rapidly fill 700 bar FCEV heavy-duty trucks. Coupled with Nikola's hydrogen tube trailer, with a capacity of 960 kg, Nikola's mobile fueller can refuel customer trucks back-to-back. This will deliver flexible hydrogen fuelling solutions for our customers starting in 2023 and will complement Nikola's permanent hydrogen fuelling stations which are being developed."

Nikola's first mobile fueller has completed commissioning and testing and has been released for market operation. Nikola has additional hydrogen mobile fuellers being commissioned in 1Q23.

Carey Mendes, Nikola Corporation President of Energy, said: "Nikola's mobile fueller programme will be an integral part of Nikola's flexible customer service in its early years by delivering hydrogen to its FCEV customers at locations which meet their needs. Along with Nikola's portfolio of hydrogen supply and permanent heavy-duty stations, these flexible mobile fuellers will ensure that our customers have complete coverage for their fuelling needs."

Nikola recently announced that it has received a California Air Resources Board (CARB) Zero-Emission Powertrain Executive Order that is a requirement for the Nikola Tre FCEV to be eligible for CARB's Hybrid and Zero Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) programme.

Upon final HVIP approval, purchasers of the Nikola Tre FCEV in 2023 may be able to qualify for California's state-based incentive valued at US$240 000 per truck; US$270 000 per truck for drayage fleets; or up to US$288 000 per truck for fleets with (i) 10 trucks or less, (ii) performing drayage operations, and (iii) located within a disadvantaged community area. Eligible non-drayage fleets may secure up to 30 HVIP vouchers and drayage fleets may secure up to 50 vouchers.

In addition to the funding provided by HVIP, purchasers of Nikola's Tre FCEVs will also qualify for an additional US$40 000 clean commercial vehicle tax credit in 2023 from the federal government due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

With a range of up to 500 miles, the Nikola Tre FCEV is expected to have among the longest ranges of all commercially available zero tailpipe emission Class 8 tractors while realising weight savings when compared to Class 8 BEVs with similar range. The Tre FCEV is well-suited for a variety of applications ranging from drayage and intermodal to metro-regional truckload and less than truckload to certain specialised hauling use cases.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/19012023/nikola-launches-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-truck-mobile-fueller/