Nikola launches hydrogen fuel cell truck mobile fueler
Nasdaq-listed Nikola Corporation has developed a 700 bar (10,000 psi) hydrogen mobile fueler capable of directly fuelling hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), it said on January 18.
The company’s mobile fueler programme includes its own mobile fuelers as well as a number of third-party mobile fuelers.
"Coupled with Nikola's hydrogen tube trailer, with a capacity of 960 kg, Nikola's mobile fueler can refuel customer trucks back-to-back,” CEO, Michael Lohscheller, said. “This will deliver flexible hydrogen fueling solutions for our customers starting in 2023 and will complement Nikola's permanent hydrogen fuelling stations which are being developed."
Nikola's first mobile fueler has completed commissioning and testing and has been released for market operation. Nikola has additional hydrogen mobile fuelers being commissioned in Q1 2023.
The company 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 $240,000 per truck; $270,000 per truck for drayage fleets; or up to $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 $40,000 clean commercial vehicle tax credit in 2023 from the federal government due to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
According to Nikola, with a range of up to 500 miles, the Tre FCEV is expected to have among the longest ranges of all commercially available zero tailpipe emission Class 8 tractors.