Nikola Delivers Electric Semi Trucks in California

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Having recently posted an article highlighting some of Nikola’s bad behavior, it’s only fair that the company receives some acknowledgment for delivering on a promise. Last week, the company shipped the first examples of its Tre battery-electric trucks in California.

Two test vehicles were issued to Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) to see how the Tre handles running deliveries in and out of Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. The trucking firm has a letter of intent from Nikola to purchase 100 trucks following a trial program of two Tre BEVs and their fuel-cell (FCEV) counterparts once the latter is in production.

Granted, it’s just two trucks and they’re not even the finalized version. But it’s still a meaningful step in making Nikola more than the scandal-ridden façade that helped its founder rake in millions. If things go well, it might even become a productive automaker forcing your author to eat crow. I’ve had my doubts about Nikola and battery electric semis in general after numerous engineers claimed that there was no way to square the energy density needed to make a functional long-haul delivery rig.

However, Nikola has the Tre offering a claimed range of 350 miles due to its exceptionally large 753.0-kWh battery pack. The unit is supposed to be capable of going from 10 to 80 percent charge in two hours when getting smacked with 240 kW and has a gross combined vehicle weight of 82,000. We’re not sure how the load will impact the range. But the 350 miles is the maximum, presumably indicating a totally unburdened truck. That leaves us with some questions as to how far it can haul its cargo. Though with 645 continuous e-horses on tap it should be capable of dragging around its payload at an electronically governed 75 mph without much trouble.

Nikola said it planned on getting TTSI an additional 30 battery-electric trucks in 2022 after the company has finished testing the duo it’s already sent over. But the FCEVs are a bit of a mystery. It’s still not clear how deep into development the hydrogen trucks are. But the company is supposed to commence deliveries in 2023 — and not just in the United States. Nikola also has deals in Germany, thanks to its partnership with Iveco.

[Images: Nikola]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Whynotaztec Whynotaztec on Dec 22, 2021

    We’ll I hope they can find drivers!

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Dec 22, 2021

    Dual fuel hybrids make more sense in the interim. There's a trucking company in my town that is trialing 2 hydrogen/diesel hybrids. The truck is good for 1,000 km running a mix of diesel and hydrogen. When it runs out of hydrogen it just switches over to diesel. The system does not affect factory warranty. There's a local company that makes chemicals for the pulp industry and a waste biproduct is hydrogen. It's a win/win for the parties involved and now they are working on increasing production.

  • Slavuta Nissan + profitability = cheap crap
  • ToolGuy Why would they change the grille?
  • Oberkanone Nissan proved it can skillfully put new frosting on an old cake with Frontier and Z. Yet, Nissan dealers are so broken they are not good at selling the Frontier. Z production is so minimal I've yet to see one. Could Nissan boost sales? Sure. I've heard Nissan plans to regain share at the low end of the market. Kicks, Versa and lower priced trims of their mainstream SUV's. I just don't see dealerships being motivated to support this effort. Nissan is just about as exciting and compelling as a CVT.
  • ToolGuy Anyone who knows, is this the (preliminary) work of the Ford Skunk Works?
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I will drive my Frontier into the ground, but for a daily, I'd go with a perfectly fine Versa SR or Mazda3.
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