Nikola Corp back on its feet with zero-emission trucks

Nikola Corp is building hydrogen plants as part of a wider fueling network. The firm hopes it will underpin its attempt to participate in the burgeoning zero-emissions truck market.

A handful of hydrogen producers have agreed to supply hydrogen for Nikola vehicles – a seven-year-old manufacturer, in the US and Canada. The company intends to have enough fuel for over 7,500 large-scale trucks by 2026.

Nikola’s goal of starting manufacturing hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks for the market later this year requires a well-developed supply network. Nikola’s trucks need hydrogen to keep them on the road, unlike battery-electric cars that can be recharged in a variety of locations.

The company shares plans regarding its energy storage plants

Nikola, which is located in Arizona, stated it started building a plant to obtain hydrogen from the water late last year in the Phoenix neighborhood of Buckeye. By late 2024, Nikola expects the first hydrogen creation to reach a daily output of around 30 metric tons. According to the firm, it is negotiating a joint venture with Fortescue Future Industries, a business of Australia’s Fortescue Metals Group Ltd – for the facility.

According to Nikola, a hydrogen company called Plug Power Inc. has proposed building a companion storage facility on the site. Hydrogen gas may be transformed into a liquid at very low temperatures, which will make transporting it easier. Nikola wants to deliver hydrogen to the company’s first three filling stations in California by truck.

Nikola Corp is ready to battle battery-electric truck rivals like electric-car maker Tesla Inc. But in the meantime, the hydrogen fuel network represents one of its greatest challenges. Diesel truck manufacturers are also offering electric substitutes. Many established truck makers believe the limited availability of hydrogen will hold down demand for hydrogen trucks. However, battery-electric trucks likely will be the first choice for truck operators seeking an electric alternative to diesel.